For the Tomahawk Leader
TOMAHAWK – The Tomahawk High School football fell to Antigo in overtime and beat Rhinelander on a thrilling late-game play.
Antigo
The Hatchets faced the Antigo Red Robins at Hatchet Field on Friday, Sept. 13 in their first home game of the season.
The Red Robins would strike first in the 2nd quarter with a 14-yard touchdown pass and extra point to take the early 0-7 lead. The Hatchets would answer with a 15-play drive culminating in a 10-yard Rex Reilly touchdown run and Horabik extra point to knot the score 7-7.
With momentum in Tomahawk’s favor, defensive tackle Jack Amelse would strip Antigo’s quarterback, allowing Reilly to recover the fumble, giving the Hatchets a short field and time left in the half. They took advantage and closed out the first half with a one-yard touchdown run by Reilly and a Horabik extra point. The Hatchets went into halftime with a 14-7 lead.
The second half started with the Hatchets unable to generate much offense on their first possession. The subsequent defensive series started with the Hatchets losing linebacker Rex Reilly for the remainder of the game with a dislocated shoulder. Antigo put together their own sustained drive to tie the score 14-14 on a three-yard touchdown run with 2:52 left in the 3rd.
The Hatchets got a needed spark on the ensuing kickoff from an outstanding 70-yard return down to Antigo’s 20 yard line from junior Landyn Seymour. Senior Brayden Larson would punch it in on the very next play to give the Hatchets a 21-14 advantage. The Hatchet defense was able to generate a change of possession off a Seymour interception, but the offense was unable to turn it into points. Antigo would eventually tie the game 21-21 with 2:52 left in regulation. With one final chance with the ball, the Hatchets would drive down to Antigo’s 25 yard line and call their final timeout with four seconds left for a chance at a winning field goal. The field goal attempt proved unsuccessful and would send the teams into overtime.
Antigo’s defense dominated the extra frame, ending Tomahawk’s offensive possession with an interception. Antigo proceeded to march the 25 yards, ultimately getting to the end zone and ending the game on a one-yard run.
“Obviously not happy with the outcome, but I can’t say enough about the effort from the players,” coach Dewey Reilly said after the game. “We have been in four overtime games in the last two years and have come up a little short. It shows we are close and have to stay the course. We will find a way to get over the hump.”
Reilly also acknowledged Brayden Larson, Jack Amelse and Landyn Seymour for having some of their best defensive games to date.
Rhinelander
The loss put the Hatchets at 1-3 on the year heading into their next conference game against the 3-1 Rhinelander Hodags at Hatchet Field on Friday, Sept. 20.
It was a game to remember. The Hodags were coming in at 1-1 in the conference after a dominant performance over Wausau East and the Hatchets (0-2) looking to rally after their overtime loss to Antigo.
“This was a pivotal game for both teams at the midpoint of the season,” Reilly said. “Not only a GNC rivalry, but what could prove to be a momentum swing, as both teams are looking to stay alive for a playoff qualification.”
The Hatchets would strike first in the closing seconds of the first quarter with a 15-yard sprint to the house by senior Brayden Larson. The successful Horabik extra point put the Hatchets at the 7-0 advantage. The Hatchet defense would answer the bell and keep the Hodags out of the end zone for the remainder of the first half. The back and forth stalemate would send the teams into halftime with the Hatchets maintaining their 7-0 lead.
The Hodags came out of the locker room looking to turn the tide in their favor, as they had outscored their opponents 50-0 in their first four contests. After receiving the second half kickoff, it did not take long for the Hodags to even the score. A long kick return, a 37-yard touchdown run on the subsequent play and a two-point conversion would see the Hodags take the lead 7-8. Rhinelander would extend their third quarter lead after a Hatchet turnover after a seven-play, 54-yard drive and failed two-point conversion. The teams would head into the final quarter with Rhinelander ahead 7-14.
The fourth quarter would be one to remember for the Hatchets. A 10-play, 55-yard drive would end with freshman quarterback Cash Olsen getting his first varsity touchdown on a tough two-yard run. Horabik would knot it up at 14-14 with the extra point kick. Both teams would test each other’s defense throughout the remainder of the quarter. With time ticking down, and Rhinelander in Hatchet territory, it looked as though history might repeat itself.
Last year Rhinelander defeated the Hatchets with a successful field goal with only three seconds left in regulation. The Hatchets needed to make a play, and it was defensive back Brayden Larson that would provide it. Larson would intercept the Hodag quarterback with 20 seconds left in the game to give the Hatchets one last chance to seal the deal.
With only one timeout remaining, Olsen completed a long strike downfield to put the Hatchets at the Hodag 31 yard line. Tomahawk’s final timeout was called to stop the clock and would see Coach Reilly send out Walter Horabik for a 48-yard field goal attempt on first down with 10 seconds remaining in regulation. The Hodags would then call their own timeout to assemble a block formation. With time nearly expired and Rhinelander lining up for the block, Tomahawk’s special teams coordinator, Aaron Evans, asked the question of the night, “Do we fake it?” That answer was “Yes!”
After a quick substitution, Coach Reilly drew a play up in the huddle. Out of Tomahawk’s field goal formation, Brayden Larson would take the snap from the holder’s position and roll out to find Junior Landyn Seymour streaking past the Hodag defenders on a 31-yard touchdown pass. With the extra point good, the Hatchets took the lead 21-14 with three seconds left. A Hatchet sack by senior Jack Amelse on Rhinelander’s final play would close the night and see the Hatchets avenge last year’s loss.
“We have been in so many close games, and overtime games, where we have come up short,” Reilly said. “The only way we are going to overcome that is by keeping our foot on the gas, taking some chances, and trusting our guys to make plays. Myself and the other coaches couldn’t be more proud of the kids. This was a team win top to bottom. Coaches coming up with this week’s scheme and ideas, guys making big plays, new guys getting their first varsity start, and guys coming in off the bench. It was awesome.”
Reilly thought WJJQ’s Alex Koch summed up the game best with his color after the fake, “Heavens to Betsy, goodnight!”
This week’s action
The Hatchets will travel to Mosinee on Friday, Sept. 27, in continued GNC play. The game will get underway at 7 p.m.
The JV Hatchets traveled to Rhinelander on Monday, Sept. 23.