STAR JOURNAL REPORT

Rhinelander High School’s varsity football team gave up five first-half touchdowns Friday night when the Hodags lost their Homecoming game at Mike Webster Stadium to Medford, 35-7.

The Raiders, who led 20-0 after the first quarter, scored their first touchdown 42 seconds into the game on a 28-yard run by Josh Thiede. Their other two touchdowns before the quarter expired came on a 61-yard run by Conrad Bolz and a 45-yard scoring strike from Ben Lindgren to Garrett Strebig.

Medford, which pulled out to a 35-0 halftime lead, added two touchdowns in the second quarter with Bolz running into the end zone from 2 yards away and Lindgren and Strebig connecting on a 31-yard scoring strike.

RHS didn’t get on the scoreboard until 8:58 remained in the game when Cole Spaulding ran 24 yards for a touchdown.

The Raiders outgained the Hodags in total offense, 428-105 yards. More than half of Medford’s 293 rushing yards came from Bolz, who recorded 16 carries for 167 yards and two touchdowns. Thiede added 92 yards rushing with a touchdown on 10 carries. Lindgren, who completed six of 14 passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns, tallied most of his passing yardage on the two scoring strikes to Strebig.

RHS picked up most of its net yardage in the air with Spaulding playing quarterback and completing eight of 21 passes for 90 yards.

The Hodags, who saw their season record drop to 0-4 in the Great Northern Conference and 2-5 overall, will seek their first conference win of the season this coming Friday when they play at Antigo in the “Bell Game.”

Medford 35, Hodags 7

Medford              20           15           0              0 – 35

Hodags                 0              0              0            7 – 7