Pigskin Preview Week 2: Hayward at Rhinelander

One thing will be almost certain following tonight’s game between the Rhinelander Hodags and the Hayward Hurricanes. Barring the extreme unlikelihood of a tie, one team will have earned a bounce back win following a tough Week 1 loss and the other will face the prospect of going into its conference slate with an 0-2 record.

The Hodags hope they will be the former rather than the latter as they host the Hurricanes at Mike Webster Stadium. 

Rhinelander is looking to bounce back from a tough 26-20 overtime loss to Ashland last week. Though the Hodags outgained the Oredockers, they committed five turnovers, which ultimately led to defeat. Even though the Hodags lost, coach Aaron Kraemer said he was pleased with the way his team responded to adversity most of the game. On two separate occasions, the Hodags matches Ashland’s go-ahead touchdown with one of their own to tie the game and twice during the game the Oredockers started a drive on Rhinelander’s half of midfield, yet came away with no points. 

“I thought that the response was great. The sideline was great, the way that they were up for the game. Even before the game and at halftime, the way that they responded, those are all things that good teams do,” Kraemer said.

Hayward, meanwhile, is coming in off a 50-23 loss to Lakeland at home in Week 1. After spotting the T-Birds 23 points in the first quarter, Hayward got back within 23-15 at halftime, but Lakeland pulled away late in game as it scored in all three phases — including a 95-yard kickoff return, a safety and an interception returned for a touchdown. 

Rhinelander has won hard-fought games over Hayward each of the last two years — winning 13-0 at Mike Webster Stadium two years ago and 21-7 in Hayward last year. Despite last week’s lopsided loss, Kraemer said he expects another tough battle from the Hurricanes.

“It’s going to be a tough battle, and I think really what’s going to push us through is our attitude and effort toward this game, understanding that they are senior heavy so they’re not going to make lots of mistakes, so we can’t make lots of mistakes either,” he said. “And then just doing what we’re capable of. I think we’re capable of a lot of things this season. And we have to start showing it.” 

Here are five storylines going into the contest.

Teaching moments

The Hodags had plenty of ground to cover in film and practice this week. Offensively, four fumbles and an interception proved costly in the contest. Defensively, the Oredockers had some success in the middle of the game on the outside with its wingbacks before pounding the interior with a steady diet of fullback Wyatt Lund — who rushed for four touchdowns including one that proved to be the game winner in overtime. 

“The good thing about the things that transpired on Friday, they are things that can be fixed at practice and that we really can focus on this week and make sure that we’re prepared to play Hayward and not have those same mistakes,” Kraemer said.

Friday’s loss marked the fourth time in the Hodags’ last nine contests in which they lost by eight points or fewer. The last time Rhinelander won a one-possession game was back in Week 8 of the 2023 season, a 7-0 victory at Merrill that made the Hodags playoff eligible that season. 

Stingy pass defense

    Rhinelander’s Sam Zwaard intercepts a pass intended for Ashland’s Jayden Popovich during the fourth quarter of a non-conference football game at Ashland Friday, Aug. 22. The Hodag secondary, which has yet to allow an official pass completion this season, will be tested tonight against a Hayward passing game that threw for 275 yards and two touchdowns last week in a 50-23 loss against Lakeland. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

In a statistical oddity through the Hodags’ scrimmage and first week of the regular season is that the team has yet to allow an official pass completion. The only connection through the air so far for an opponent against Rhinelander came on a two-point conversion last week when Aiden Jolma hit Isaac Eliason on a wheel route. 

Sam Zwaard came up with an interception on the goal line that thwarted an Ashland drive last week while cornerback Weston Kibler recovered a fumble. 

Kraemer noted that the entire secondary has done well communicating, and it will be tested this week against a pass-first Hayward attack.

“We really need to invite more guys in the passing game to help out. Our Hodags (outside linebackers), our inside linebackers are going to have to help out a ton this week in the pass,” he said. “It’s going to take six guys rather than the four of them. We’ll see how they respond to that.” 

Air Walsh

Hayward’s offense is led by senior quarterback Keegan Walsh, who put up big numbers last week despite the loss. The left-handed Walsh finished 25 of 39 passing for 275 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also had a rushing touchdown in the contest.

Walsh has a bevy of weapons in the passing game, but the most active targets last week were Cade Schlapper (8 rec., 104 yards, TD), Caleb Springer (8-71) and Preston Sullivan (5-50). 

“I think he can make plays with his feet. I think he can make plays with his arm,” Kraemer said. “He’s a tempo guy, so, three-step drop, the ball’s out, and he trusts his receivers. They play a jump ball game and they go and they’re successful at that.”

Walsh had a rough game last year against Rhinelander, passing for only 72 yards. He threw four interceptions, all in the second half, including one that was returned by Dolan O’Malley 49 yards for what proved to be the game-winning score. 

Hayward struggled on the ground last week against Lakeland, rushing for just eight net yards. Darren Clifford was the leading rusher with 13 yards on three carries. 

Hustlin’ Hurricanes

While it seems odd in a game in which it allowed 50 points, the Hurricanes’ defense gave up only 235 yards of offense last week against Lakeland while forcing a pair of turnovers. Sullivan led the team with six tackles and had an interception in the contest.

“Hayward defensively, they play a system where their guys are all about hustle and heart,” Kraemer said of the Hurricane’s 4-3 scheme. “And you see that every year. Coach (Noah) LeBlanc does a great job of getting those guys to believe on the defensive side and to hustle. And I really do admire that.”

Lakeland was balanced in its attack last week. Quarterback Declan McQuade was 10 of 14 passing for 145 yards with two touchdowns and an interception while feature tailback Michael Schettino rushed for 90 yards and three touchdowns. Kraemer said he hopes for similar balance this week.

“I think that we have a solid running game, but to make ourselves great, we have to be great in a play action passing and quick game and get the ball to the edges as well, to spread the defense out to make it easier for us to run, too,” he said. “So that’s got to be the goal for us offensively.” 

Home sweet home

Tonight kicks off a stretch three games in four weeks at Mike Webster Stadium. Though school is not yet in session, Kraemer is hoping for a strong home crowd tonight and a performance that will leave the fan base excited for Great Northern Conference play.

“This is the first opportunity for our home fans to gain an expectation about what our guys could be,” he said. “There is an expectation of what you could be and can be, and then there is your attitude and effort to push you to that expectation. So we’re excited to show everybody what we can do and have everybody here at Mike Webster Stadium.”

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].