Big plays highlight Hodags’ scrimmage

There appears to be reason for optimism for the Rhinelander High School football team following Friday night’s dress rehearsal for the upcoming season. 

The Hodags made some big plays on both sides of the football and got the better of both Shawano and Crandon in their scrimmage at Mike Webster Stadium.

What that means when the season kicks off Friday night at Tomahawk remains to be seen, but head coach Aaron Kraemer called the night a successful end to the preseason. 

“We got out of here healthy, which is great,” he said. “Our guys came out of here with a great attitude. You saw them smiling in the end zone. They’re happy and they’re excited. I think they feel like they can do this and that they’re poised to have a good season. It’s my job now to lead them through this and that we continue to push each other in practice.”

Rhinelander, trying to bounce back from a 1-8 campaign in 2022, looked sharp at times during Friday night’s scrimmage. The event was divided into 30-minute run time sessions that simulated game conditions, with the exception for special teams. Though no scores were officially kept, Rhinelander took both sessions 14-8 according to information tracked by the River News.

The Hodags jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the opening session against the Hawks. 

After Shawano failed to convert on a fourth-and-16 from the Hodag 39, the Rhinelander offense went to work, marching 65 yards on seven plays, capped off by a six-yard touchdown run by senior tailback James Heck. Junior quarterback Truman Lamers found junior receiver Dominic Lehmann for 30 yards on a fade route to set up the goal-to-go scenario.

    Rhinelander’s Tyler Chariton forces a fumble during a scrimmage against Shawano at Mike Webster Stadium Friday, Aug. 11. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

Shawano marched into Hodag territory again, but the drive was quickly halted by the only turnover generated by the RHS defense on the night. Junior Tyler Chariton forced a fumble that was recovered by senior Owen Ives. 

From there Lamers hit senior receiver Kyrle Vanney for 46 yards down the sideline, putting the Hodags inside the 10 again. Senior wingback Payton Campbell bounced in from five yards two plays later to put Rhinelander up two scores. 

“Offensively, I thought there were moments where we could have needed to punt or drives could have stalled out and we had big plays,” Kraemer said. “That’s what this offense kind of does. It lulls you to sleep and then it hits you with a big counter punch. We were really proud of the way we executed today.”

Shawano’s lone score came on a 61-yard pass on its third drive as a receiver got behind the coverage of Vanney on a go route. 

Rhinelander’s next drive ended in a fumble by Lamers, but Shawano was unable to come up with a tying score. The Hawks got to the Hodag 40 following a defensive pass interference call, but stalled out thanks to sacks by senior Ben Lyon and sophomore Caden Sieker. 

The Hodags opened their session against Crandon with a nine-play march for a score. Heck punched it in from a yard out but the drive included two big plays by Campbell, who rushed for 20 yards around the edge on a fourth-and-1 from the Crandon 44. He also picked up 29 yards on a screen pass to set up the goal line scenario. 

Crandon answered with a 12-play drive that stalled out deep in Hodag territory as Sieker and Heck collaborated on a sack on fourth-and-goal from the 3. 

“Defensively, I thought we were physical,” Kraemer said. “We got to the football well. We gave up a long touchdown pass, that happens and we’ll shore that up. We had some long drives that we need to cut down on.”

Rhinelander went three and out on its next possession, setting up Crandon’s touchdown, a two-yard plunge that capped off a six-play, 55-yard drive. 

The Hodags answered with a six-play drive of their own, capped off by a 34-yard score by Campbell on a counter play. 

Hot wings

Campbell, who was Rhinelander’s leading rusher in 2022 despite missing the final five games of the season, flashed in Friday’s sessions, racking up 89 yards (60 rushing, 29 receiving) and two touchdowns on only five carries. 

He was far from the only wingback to have success on Friday, however. Junior Sam Schoppe finished the night with 45 yards on seven carries and Logan Schwinger added five carries for 32 yards.

“The offense is made for them to get out in space and to run — not only on our sweeps and jets, but also on our screens,” Kraemer said. “You saw a big screen by Payton in the Shawano game and then a lot of buck and a lot of jet and we were able to get those guys to where we wanted them.”

    Rhinelander’s Caden Sieker records a sack during a scrimmage against Shawano at Mike Webster Stadium Friday, Aug. 11. Sieker, a sophomore, recorded 4 1/2 tackles for loss — including 2 1/2 sacks — in Friday’s scrimmage. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

Heat Sieker

Sieker had an impactful night on defense. Of his six total tackles, he recorded 2 1/2 sacks and two other tackles from loss from his defensive line position. 

“You can see the flashes of brilliance that he has,” Kraemer said. “And he’s got a great defensive attitude. That’s what he wants to do right now, he wants to play D. He fits in well with our defense because Bo (Stott)’s going to play a lot of offense, (Owen) Kurtz is going to play a lot of offense and we’re going to have to make sure we rotate those guys out. It’s good to have a sophomore that’s ready to play varsity football and that’s hungry. That’s exactly what he’s brought to the defensive line group.” 

Statbook

The Hodags racked up 322 yards of offense on only 38 offensive plays. Lamers finished the night 8 of 11 passing for 169 yards. 

Rhinelander continued to spread the wealth offensively. Lamers completed passes to seven different receivers and 11 different players recorded either a rush or a reception in the varsity portion of the scrimmage. 

Kraemer said it was another test passed for the Hodags’ new Pistol Wing offense. 

“Calling it is like a dream and the fact that we’re also in the pistol and a little bit more balanced, that’s the way we like to do it,” he said. “We still don’t have everything in yet. There’s still quite a lot to do.”

The Hodag defense allowed 189 yards on 37 plays. Shawano’s spread-based attack was held to 10 yards on 10 carries and was 3 of 7 through the air for 78 yards and a touchdown. Crandon, featuring a Power T attack, did not attempt a pass in its session, racking up 101 yards on 20 carries. 

Junior linebacker Dolan O’Malley racked up the most tackles with seven, Sieker had six stops while Heck and Kurtz and four tackles each.

“Defensively, it’s about aligning in the right gaps, being in the right places and then hitting and I thought we did OK with that tonight. We’ve got to ramp that up a little bit,” Kraemer said.

Up next

Rhinelander opens the regular season at Tomahawk this coming Friday night. The Hodags fell to the Hatchets 27-13 in last year’s opener.

The Hatchets, picked to finish sixth in the Northwoods Conference by WisSports.net, have a new head coach in Dewey Reilly. 

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].