Auburn captures season opener | Prep football

Deishawndre Appleton ran for two touchdowns as Auburn beat Mountain View of Vancouver, 31-21, in a nonleague game Friday night at Auburn Memorial Stadium.

Junior halfback Deishawndre Appleton ran for two touchdowns as Auburn beat Mountain View of Vancouver, 31-21, in a nonleague game Friday night at Auburn Memorial Stadium.

Appleton scored from 10 and 23 yards away in the season opener, and finished the game with 51 rushing yards on seven carries.

Junior quarterback Justin Ioimo and senior fullback Patrick O’Dell each scored from a yard out and junior Kaden Borden booted a 32-yard field goal for the Trojans.

Ioimo led the teqam in rushing with 116 yards on 13 carries. O’Dell finished with five carries for 12 yards.

True to form, the Trojans passed just 10 times with senior quarterback Nikk Kaatz going 3-of-7 for 61 yards. Ioimo had three attempts and no completions.

Eight Trojans carried the ball in the contest including: Kaatz, two carries, 3 yards; senior Avery Wade, six carries 62 yards; senior Masai Matthews, six carries, 51 yards; junior Malik Williams, five carries, 37 yards; and Senior Dillon O’Grady, one carry, seven yards.

Williams led the team in receptions with three for 61 yards.

Defensively, Ioimo had an interception and 15 tackles at defensive back.

Junior linebacker  Helleluiah Tiauli, had three tackles, two for loss and senior Sam Lindsey notched six tackles, including one for a loss.

Auburn plays Kent-Meridian (1-0) for the Taylor Trophy at 6 p.m. this Saturday at French Field. The Royals come into the game hot on the heels of a 48-23 nonleague win at Battle Ground.