RHS Sports recap: Friday, Oct. 17

Football: Merrill 27, Rhinelander 13

The Rhinelander High School football team’s playoff hopes were in flux Friday night following a 27-13 loss to Merrill in the regular season finale in Merrill.

The Hodags, who held the 32nd and final playoff spot in D3 entering the night needed a win to secure their postseason bid, but fell behind 14-0 early and saw a late rally fall short. 

Cyrus Leisure carried nine times for 101 yards and a pair of touchdowns — the first from 77 yards in the second quarter and the second which got Rhinelander within 19-13 with 4:59 left. The latter came after the senior hauled in a 43-yard reception on fourth and 33. 

The Hodags were unable to stop Merrill on the next drive, however, and Cole Rudie ran it in from 38 yards to ice it with 2:05 to play. 

Lesiure finished the night with 162 total yards on 14 touchdowns while Sam Zwaard added seven carries for 66 yards. Abe Gretzinger as 12 of 19 passing for 109 yards and an interception. He was also sacked five times — including on back-to-back plays to end a drive after the Hodags had first and goal from the 2. 

Rudie finished with 104 yards rushing, 80 yards passing an two total touchdowns for the Bluejays. Kanin Jahnke added 77 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. 

Rhinelander (3-6, 2-4 Great Northern) received a No. 8 seed for the WIAA tournament and will travel to top seeded Madison Edgewood to open the playoffs this coming Friday.

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