For the Tomahawk Leader
TOMAHAWK – The Tomahawk Hatchet football team opened its season with a close home loss to Rhinelander on Friday, Aug. 18.
A one-yard touchdown run by Rex Reilly gave the Hatchets a six-point lead in the first quarter. After a punt by each team, Tomahawk’s Jonah Dickens picked off a Hodag pass in the second quarter, and a 58-yard touchdown pass from Reilly to Brayden Larson, with a successful two-point conversion, gave the Hatchets a 14-0 lead.
Tomahawk scored again in the second quarter, this time on an 88-yard touchdown reception by Larson. The Hatchets made the extra point, and the Hodags responded with a touchdown of their own. Tomahawk took a 21-6 lead into the half.
The second half was all Rhinelander offensively, as they scored 16 more points while holding Tomahawk scoreless for the entire half. The Hodags would seal a 22-21 win on a 19-yard field goal with just over three seconds left in the game.
Reilly completed four of nine passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns. Reilly also led the Hatchets on the ground, racking up 101 yards on 16 attempts. Larson, Landyn Seymour and Caleb Dickens also contributed to the Hatchets’ rushing attack. Larson was Tomahawk’s top receiver, hauling in three catches for 166 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Caleb Dickens had one catch for six yards and one interception.
The Hatchets are scheduled to hit the road to take on Lakeland this week. Opening kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.