Hononegah Football

Hononegah gets a Gritty Week 1 Win with Weather Delays, New Faces

Hononegah with a 28–13 win over Belvidere in game one of the 2026 High School Football Season. Photo-Graphic/Harold Bone

Friday night’s opener wasn’t just a football game—it was a test of patience, focus, and adaptability. A long lightning delay stretched halftime into an hour‑and‑a‑half sit‑and‑wait session, turning the NIC‑10 opener into a mental battle as much as a physical one. After Hononegah’s 28–13 win over Belvidere, head coach Brian Zimmerman spoke about what the team endured and how his new offensive leaders handled their first varsity spotlight.

On managing the long halftime delay

“It was tough to try to keep them focused at halftime, especially not knowing when we might come back. We didn’t know 100% if we were going to come back out or if we’d have to reschedule. It’s difficult to sit for an hour and a half and then try to get your momentum back.”

The staff had prepared the players earlier in the day for the possibility of weather issues, but the extended break still challenged a roster full of teenagers trying to stay locked in.

“Ultimately we said, sit tight. I told them before we even left Hononegah that we were going to encounter weather tonight. I thought overall they did a pretty good job adjusting, but it’s tough. First game, I’m happy with the outcome. We’ve got a lot to clean up, obviously, and the field conditions weren’t great.”

On Belvidere surprising them early

“I thought Belvidere came out and did some things that were pretty fundamentally sound for their program. I think they surprised us a little bit with what they did—good for them. It wasn’t pretty, but we got the win. Overall, a good first game.”

On the debut of a new quarterback Dom Cacciatore and new running back Brody Sendele.

“I thought we did a nice job mixing up the pass and the run. Brody ran the ball well. Dom made good decisions—throwing it, handing it off, running it himself.”

Emerson Tuula, who scored in the second quarter, also earned praise despite taking a hit late.