Hononegah overwhelms Auburn 63–14 in NIC‑10 home opener
From the opening whistle, Hononegah played like a team intent on setting the tone for the season.
If Hononegah wanted to make a statement in its NIC‑10 home opener, it delivered one with authority. The Indians exploded for 42 first‑quarter points Friday night at Kelsey Field and rolled to a 63–14 victory over Auburn, a performance that showcased not just star power but the depth and cohesion head coach Brian Zimmerman has been preaching since summer camp.
From the opening whistle, Hononegah played like a team intent on setting the tone for the season. Quarterback Dominic Cacciatore was sharp and decisive, completing 12 of 16 passes for 146 yards and four touchdowns. His first strike — a 19‑yard touchdown to Colton Banker just two minutes into the game opened the floodgates.
Moments later, Brody Sendele broke free whirling derbish sideline stepping 38‑yard touchdown run, and the Indians were off and running. Special teams joined the surge when Mykell Mueller returned a punt 43 yards for a touchdown, pushing the lead to 21–0 with 6:50 left in the first quarter. Cacciatore added touchdown passes to Ben Shockley and Mueller, and Marice Szarzynski capped the quarter with a 9‑yard scoring run.
By the end of the first 12 minutes, Hononegah led 42–0, and the home crowd was witnessing a clinic.
“We played fast, we played clean, and we played together,” Zimmerman said. “What I’m most proud of is how many guys contributed. We were able to get a lot of players meaningful snaps tonight, and they all stepped up. That’s what good teams do.”
Zimmerman’s commitment to spreading opportunities paid off. In the second quarter, Cacciatore found Madden Penix for a 20‑yard touchdown, and Zackary Mortimer added a short scoring run. Even after Auburn managed two long touchdown passes from quarterback Alonzo Herbig, Hononegah’s control never wavered.
The second half belonged to the depth chart. Backup quarterback Robert Bertrand delivered one of the night’s biggest highlights — a 53‑yard touchdown pass to Szarzynski with 3:16 left in the fourth quarter. Bertrand finished 3‑for‑5 for 76 yards and a touchdown, while Szarzynski totaled 102 yards from scrimmage and two scores.
Hononegah’s defense was equally dominant, holding Auburn to 133 total yards and –5 rushing yards. The Indians recorded three tackles for loss, five pass breakups, and an interception by Mueller. Auburn completed just 9 of 33 passes, struggling to find rhythm against Hononegah’s pressure and coverage.
Special teams were a major advantage. Gavin Herron blasted four touchbacks and averaged nearly 54 yards per kickoff, while Jacob Duval added 69 kickoff‑return yards, including a 47‑yard burst that flipped field position.
Hononegah finished with 364 total yards, averaged 7.6 yards per play, never punted, and controlled possession for nearly 27 minutes.
With a dominant win in their NIC‑10 home opener, the Indians look every bit like a team with championship aspirations — fast, physical, deep, and connected.
