RHS Sports recap: Friday, Aug. 22

Football: Ashland 26, Rhinelander 20, OT

Five turnovers were too many for the Rhinelander High School football team to overcome Friday night as the dropped their season opener at Ashland in overtime, 26-20.

The fifth turnover proved to be the death knell as Cyrus Leisure fumbled near the first-down marker during Rhinelander’s possession in the extra session. Ashland had already scored in overtime on Wyatt Lund’s fourth rushing touchdown of the night. 

Myles Eagleson and Ben Olson had second-quarter touchdowns for Rhinelander as the teams were tied 12-12 at the break. Leisure scored from 26 yards out on fourth and 1 moments into the fourth quarter, and Abe Gretzinger hit Rowan Wiczek on a two-point conversion to tie the game at 20.

Rhinelander lost four fumbles in the game and had an interception. Ashland committed three turnovers in the contest. Eagleson (21 carries, 109 yards) and Leisure (15 carries, 104 yards) both went over the century mark for Rhinelander while Lund finished with 115 yards on 21 carries for Ashland.

Rhinelander (0-1, 0-0 Great Northern) hosts Hayward this coming Friday.

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