RHS Sports recap: Friday, Aug. 23

Football: Rhinelander 20, Ashland 0

The Rhinelander High School football team cruised in its season opener. The Hodags rushed for 256 yards and wore down the Ashland Oredockers in a 20-0 victory Friday night at Mike Webster Stadium.

Quarterback Truman Lamers scored from five yards out on the opening drive and Logan Schwinger plunged in from two yards out following an Ashland turnover as the Hodags took a 14-0 lead to halftime. 

Cyrus Leisure sealed it late in the third quarter as he broke multiple tackles on a 63-yard run that put the Hodags up three scores. The Rhinelander defense preserved a shutout after the Oredockers drove down to the Hodag 5 on their final possession. 

Leisure finished with 105 yards rushing on just three carries while Schwinger added 59 yards on an score on eight carries. The Hodags outgained the Oredockers 275-187 in the contest. 

Rhinelander (1-0, 0-0 Great Northern) travels to Hayward next Friday night.

Girls’ tennis: Rhinelander 3-0, Hodag Quad

The Rhinelander High School girls’ tennis team got back to .500 on the season Friday with a trio of 7-0 victories over Merrill, Ironwood (Mich.) and Ashland in a quadrangular meet at the RHS tennis courts. 

The Hodags won all 21 of their matches in straight sets, despite mixing and matching lineup combinations throughout the day. Teagan Turcotte and Willow VanDenHeuvel were the only players to play in all three matches as they picked up a win at No. 3 doubles, and two at No. 2 doubles. 

Rhinelander (5-5, 1-0 Great Northern) begins a two-day invite at Wausau West on Monday.

Full reports will be published in Tuesday’s River News.