Abilene Cowboys VS TMP

Abilene Cowboys VS TMP

In more than one of the many vehicles traveling I-70 from Abilene to Hays on Friday afternoon, the Cowboy faithful speculated about how Steve Simpson’s football team would respond to losing a senior class that guided the Cowboys to a 9-2 record, kicked in the door of the 4A-1 playoffs, and came within a whisker of advancing to the semi-finals in 2015. Gone is the playmaking ability of Harley Hazlett and Trey Bender. Gone is the dominance of an offensive line anchored by seniors Andy Tope, Hayden Funston, Bailey Fitzgeralds, and Cale Mayden. Gone is the ferocity of a defense whose heartbeat came from seniors Jovany Garcia, Dylan Ford, and Jason Tarn. Gone is the steady strength of senior leaders Ryan LaCombe and Colten Liby. Conversations among the faithful speeding along I-70 centered around a team in 2016 that would not be able to strike as quickly on offense or boast as many exciting, athletic plays or impose their defensive will as they’d done in 2015.

One of the beautiful features of competition is the inescapable truth that conversations about what might happen on the field of play become utterly meaningless once the game starts. The 2016 edition of the Abilene Cowboy football team made a statement of their own once the game began. No speculation, no lamenting who was not there because of graduation, no talk at all; just a dominating performance on the field of play.

New playmakers emerged on Friday night as the Cowboys crushed an overmatched TMP football team at Lewis Field Stadium at Fort Hays State University. In addition, the Cowboy faithful were offered a profound reminder that many playmakers from last year remain on Simpson’s roster. Michael Anguiano intercepted a pass on the Monarchs’ first series to begin to jog the memories. Following Anguiano’s interception, Parker O’Neal, Parker Base, Ryan Wilson, and Carter Wildey continued the theme. Ryan Wilson, senior quarterback, calmly guided his team down to the one yard line only to fumble away a certain score. This would be the lone negative on the night for Simpson’s offense. O’Neal and Base are big, fast, athletic, and their method of carrying the ball can only be described as “angry.”

Following the turnover, Adam Gantenbein’s defense offered a reminder of their own:  these Cowboys are going to be just fine. In fact, TMP either turned it over or had to punt every time they had the ball in the first quarter. By the time the Monarchs achieved a first down, the score was 39 to 0 in favor of the Cowboys. Gantenbein’s defense looked stout. In the middle lurks the Parker brothers—Base and O’Neal—, the line is bookended by Sam Burt and Tucker Robinson, and the secondary boasts the aforementioned Anguiano, Ryan Wilson, Cooper Wyckoff, and Carter Wildey.  These Cowboys are physical and understand how Gantenbein and Simpson want them to defend.

The Abilene scoring began with a Parker O’Neal dive on the second possession. Parker Base then scampered nearly untouched for a 40 yard touchdown behind the blocking of senior Donovan Anguiano and freshman, yes freshman Kade Funston on their next offensive drive.

TMP’s next offensive series began with Abilene’s Cooper Wyckoff imposing his will from the strong safety position against the run, and when the Monarchs’ went to the air, junior Bryce Riekeman intercepted a pass attempt and ran 36 yards the other direction for a pick-six. At the 2:00 mark of the first quarter, Abilene lead 19-0. So much for speculation that the Cowboys’ quick strike ability had left with last year’s graduates.

TMP’s next series ended with Cooper Wyckoff blocking the attempted punt resulting in the Cowboys taking over at the Monarch 29. One play later, Wilson hit his tight end, Bryce Reikeman, with a beautiful touch pass for a touchdown. 25-0. From that point, the Cowboys suffocated the Monarchs even further. O’Neal plays defense like he runs the ball, very angrily. He and his partner Parker Base controlled the game defensively. Following a fake punt by TMP that was thwarted by Base, O’Neal scored again for the Abilene offense. On Abilene’s next offensive possession, the junior speed merchant, Dominick Campbell, took a handoff from Wilson, and 60 yards later, a touchdown and another playmaker had emerged. At this point in the game, Abilene lead by a score of 39-0, and the Monarchs had yet to register a first down. These Cowboys are going to be just fine.

The second half scoring began with a 22 yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Carter Wildey. Wilson also found senior wideout Ben Veach for a 29 yard strike during the drive as the introduction of Coach Simpson’s and Coach Hartman’s new tools continued in Hays. The scoring for Abilene would conclude when Ryan Wilson took an interception back for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. TMP’s starters got in some work in the interim, scoring touchdowns against Abilene’s reserves.

Next Friday, Abilene will host a much improved Marysville team that lost a close one to two-time defending champion Rossville this week. Game time will be 7 p.m. at Paul Dennis Field. The Cowboy faithful can speculate all week about how the Cowboys will do against a better opponent. It’s all meaningless—but fun—until the game begins Friday.

These Cowboys are going to be just fine.