RHS Sports recap: Friday, Sept. 6

Football: Lakeland 12, Rhinelander 8

The Rhinelander High School football team was unable to pull off a miracle Friday night in Minocqua. 

Backup quarterback Chandler Servent was sacked at midfield setting up for a Hail Mary attempt as time expired and the Hodags fell 12-8 to Lakeland in the GNC opener.

Rhinelander fell behind 12-0 in the first half thanks to a two-yard touchdown run by Noah Bruckner and an 82-yard touchdown pass from Declan McQuade to Evan Zoch. The Hodags got within a score on a Cyrus Leisure 8-yard score late in the third quarter and were given a chance when Bruckner fumbled inside the Rhinelander 15 with 5:17 remaining.

The Hodags had two potential first downs nullified by penalty before eventually failing to convert on 4th and 11 with 1:14 left. After going 3-and-out, Lakeland opted to run out of the back of the end zone for a safety with 5 seconds remaining rather than punt the ball away, setting up Rhinelander’s last desperation gasp.

Leisure led the Hodags with 86 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries while Sam Schoppe had 44 yards on 10 carries. Servent, in for the injured Truman Lamers (eye), was 4 of 12 passing for 64 yards. 

Bruckner rushed for 148 yards and a score for Lakeland on 29 carries. 

Rhinelander (2-1, 0-1 Great Northern) hosts Wausau East next Friday night at Mike Webster Stadium.

A full report will be published in Tuesday’s River News.