Hononegah's Playoff Run Comes to an End with 38-13 Loss at the Hands of Fenwick
Hononegah finished the season 9-2 and 8-1 in the NIC-10 conference.
Hononegah’s postseason journey came to a halt on Saturday afternoon as the Indians dropped a 38-13 decision to Fenwick in the second round of the IHSA Class 6A playoffs.
The Indians struggled to contain an explosive Fenwick passing attack led by quarterback Myles Hill, who put on a stellar performance through the air. Hononegah fought until the final whistle, highlighted by explosive plays on special teams and late-game scores, but the early deficit proved too steep to overcome.
Air Raid and First-Half Momentum
Fenwick asserted control early, utilizing a high-efficiency passing game. Hill completed 18 of 23 passes for 340 yards and four touchdowns, carving up the secondary with pinpoint accuracy.
The visitors drew first blood with 8:59 remaining in the first quarter when Hill connected with Jake Thies on a 9-yard touchdown pass. JP Bordeaux Walsh added the first of his five extra points, followed by a 42-yard field goal later in the opening frame to stretch the lead to 10-0.
Thies continued to plague the Hononegah defense in the second quarter, hauling in touchdown receptions of 34 and 54 yards from Hill to push Fenwick's advantage to 24-0 heading into halftime. Thies finished the afternoon with four catches for 99 yards and three scores.
To see all the images captured by Alan Mohring Photography from the Hononegah Football Game -https://alanmohring.smugmug.com/Football/261107-Hononegah-Varsity-vs-Fenwick
Indians Show Grit in the Second Half
Fenwick extended its lead to 31-0 early in the third quarter on a 3-yard rushing touchdown by Rocco Nero, who led the Friars on the ground with 85 yards on 19 carries.
Hononegah quickly answered with a spark. Junior returner Marice Szarzynski electrified Kelsey and the Indians sidelines by returning the ensuing kickoff 96 yards, setting up the Indians inside the red zone. Moments later, quarterback Dominic Cacciatore engineered a short scoring drive, finding receiver Madden Penix for a 3-yard touchdown pass with 7:18 left in the third quarter to get Hononegah on the board.
Though Fenwick countered immediately with a 69-yard catch-and-run touchdown from Hill to Jimmy Watts, the Indians refused to fold.
Hononegah's defense dug in during the second half, anchored by linebacker Emerson Tuula, who posted a massive game with 9 solo tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and a 12-yard sack. Defensive back Silas Gibson also came up big for the Indians, recording an interception and returning it 40 yards. Evan Hulburt added a 6-yard sack for the Hononegah pass rush.
The Indians capped off the scoring late in the fourth quarter. Senior backup quarterback Robert Bertrand engineered a crisp drive, connecting with Ben Shockley for a 3-yard touchdown pass with just 38 seconds remaining. Nolan Meadors converted the extra point, bringing the final score to 38-13.
By the Numbers
- Total Offense: Fenwick outgained Hononegah 469 to 143 total yards.
- Passing: Dominic Cacciatore finished 15-of-29 for 93 yards and a touchdown, with Penix hauling in 5 receptions for 33 yards.
- Rushing: Jacob Duval led the Hononegah ground game with 31 yards on 8 carries, including a long run of 20 yards. Zackary Mortimer added 26 yards on 3 attempts (8.7 yards per carry).
- Special Teams: Gavin Herron provided strong punting for the Indians, booming 6 kicks for an average of 39.5 yards per punt—highlighted by a long of 56 yards.
Despite the elimination, Hononegah closed out another hard-fought campaign that showcased the resilience and competitive spirit of the program deep into November.
With the loss this also ends the storied career of Hononegah Head Coach Brian Zimmerman. Coach Zimmerman from every teammate, player, parent, fan, alumni and community member we thank you for every second of your time, your blood, your sweat and your tears that you gave to the Hononegah Indian Football Family. #GoTribe, #GoHono
