Hodag Highlights: No. 5 Tomahawk routs Rhinelander 49-7 on Senior Night

Fifth-ranked Tomahawk spoiled the Rhinelander High School football team’s Senior Night Friday with a 49-7 victory that sent the game into running time in the third quarter.
The Hatchets wasted no time establishing control, intercepting the Hodags on their opening possession and returning it for a touchdown. Tomahawk led 13-0 after the first quarter and extended the advantage to 35-7 by halftime.
Rhinelander’s lone touchdown came on defense when Ryley Hull recovered a fumble and returned it for a score, cutting Tomahawk’s lead to 13-7 in the second quarter.
Tomahawk added a touchdown with 3:20 remaining in the third quarter to trigger the running clock, then scored once more to reach the final margin.
Cyrus Leisure led Rhinelander’s ground game with 73 yards on seven carries.

The Hodags had hoped to avenge last year’s last-second loss at Tomahawk, but the fifth-ranked Division 5 team dominated from the opening drive.
Rhinelander will host Antigo in the 91st annual Bell Game on Friday.
The game also featured a “pass the bucket” donation event to benefit 2016 RHS grad, and former football player, Tim Palubicki who is hospitalized after suffering severe injuries in a work-related accident.