Hodag Highlights: Football team falls to Oredockers in overtime heartbreaker

The Rhinelander High School football team’s 2025 season opener ended in heartbreak Friday night as a costly fumble in overtime sealed a 26-20 loss to the Ashland Oredockers at Ashland High School.
After battling back from an eight-point deficit to force overtime, the Hodags saw their comeback bid end when running back Cyrus Leisure fumbled after gaining 15 yards on their overtime possession. Ashland recovered the fumble to secure the victory.
The game was a tale of missed opportunities for Rhinelander, which committed five turnovers — four fumbles and one interception — compared to three for Ashland.
Ashland struck first in the opening quarter with a touchdown, taking a 6-0 lead after failing to convert the extra point. Both teams found the end zone twice in the first half, with neither squad successfully converting extra points, leaving the game tied 12-12 at halftime.
The Oredockers appeared to take control early in the third quarter, scoring a touchdown and converting a two-point attempt to extend their lead to 20-12. But Rhinelander refused to fold. Leisure punched in a touchdown run late in regulation, and quarterback Abe Gretzinger found Rowan Wiczek in the end zone for the two-point conversion to tie the game 20-20 and send it to overtime.

In the extra period, Ashland took the first possession from the 25-yard line and scored a touchdown but missed the crucial extra point, leaving the door open at 26-20.
The Hodags began their overtime drive with promise, moving the ball effectively before Leisure’s fumble ended their hopes.
Despite the loss, Rhinelander showed offensive firepower with two players eclipsing the 100-yard rushing mark. Leisure and Myles Eagleson each surpassed the century mark on the ground. Eagleson and Ben Olson provided the first-half scoring for the Hodags, while Leisure added the crucial fourth-quarter touchdown.
The Hodags (0-1) will look to rebound next Friday when they host Hayward for their home opener.