Merrill Bluejays shut out Rhinelander Hodags 37-0 for Homecoming victory

The Merrill Varsity Bluejays gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, shutting out the visiting Rhinelander Hodags 37-0 in the Homecoming Football Game.
“The Bluejays put together a complete game Saturday afternoon when the Hodags came to town,” Merrill Varsity Football Head Coach Jason Wadzinski said. “We tallied nearly 400 yards of total offense, led on the ground by Kanin Jahnke and through the air by Cole Rudie.”
Merrill finished with 399 total yards (289 rushing, 110 passing) and 14 first downs, and went a perfect 4-for-4 in the red zone.
Jahnke carried the load in the run game (23 rush, 168 yds, 2 TD; 1 rec, 24 yds). Rudie went 5-for-11 through the air for 110 yards and a touchdown, and added 86 yards on 15 carries.
Ryker Remington found the end zone twice, on an 11-yard run and a 54-yard touchdown catch from Rudie (1 rush, 11 yds, 1 TD; 1 rec, 54 yds, 1 TD). Aaron Collinsworth added a 12-yard touchdown run.

Ty Schuett handled the kicking duties, making four of five extra points and a 27-yard field goal (4 XPM, 5 XPA, 1 FGM, 2 FGA). He also booted five touchbacks on seven kickoffs.
“The offensive line really stepped up this week and put together a dominant performance in front of a huge home crowd,” Wadzinski said.
Abram Norton and Aidan Hardy led the way up front with four pancakes each, and Remington added three.
“The defense also pitched another shutout this season while accumulating nine total sacks, led by Senior Peyton Hagenbucher with 2.5 sacks,” he said.
Hagenbucher (9 Tk, 5 Ast, 2.5 Sck, 3 TFL, 1 Ast TFL) anchored a Merrill defense that held Rhinelander to 164 total yards (111 rushing, 53 passing) and seven first downs. Gracin Bloch added 2 sacks, Brayden Mueller had 1.5, Moses Gates and Sam Hagemeister had 1 each, and Mason Schenk and William Miemietz each had 0.5.
The Bluejays also forced two turnovers: an interception by Brody Klebenow and a fumble recovery by Otto Lee.
“It was a fun one and a memorable Homecoming for these boys to cherish for years to come,” Wadzinski said.

Box Score
Rhinelander 0 @ Merrill 37