High School Sports: AHS vs WHS 9-26-14

Cowboys Did Not Give Them A Chance!

by Gabe Johnson

The Abilene Cowboy football team traveled to Wamego Friday night with a senior class that since their youth football days had never been able to beat the Wamego Red Raiders.  Late Friday night, after a long, physical football game, they left Wamego victorious.  “They’ve dominated us every year since fourth grade.  It’s cool we were able to do it our senior year,” said senior linebacker Reggie Koop.

Captains meet for coin toss.  (Stalder, Koop, Youtsey, Hoekman)  
Photo by Denise Youtsey 

Excited Abilene Student Section  
Photo by Denise Youtsey 

Junior cornerback Trey Bender jumpstarted the Cowboy offense within the first two minutes of the game after returning an interception to the Wamego 15-yard-line.  The interception led to an 11-yard Harley Hazlett touchdown pass to senior Chase Stalder.  Junior kicker Ryan LaCombe’s successful PAT put Abilene on top 7-0.

Harley gets the play from the sidelines
Photo by Denise Youtsey 

After the Cowboy touchdown, a threatening Red Raider drive that lasted into the beginning of the second-quarter was snuffed out by senior Tanner Hoekman’s interception.  Abilene’s drive following the interception stalled out, and the Cowboys punted to put the Red Raiders at midfield.  Wamego moved into the Abilene red-zone, but the stout Cowboy defense held strong, and Wamego turned the ball over on downs.

The Red Raiders evened the score at 7-7 in the second quarter after a Kyler Alderson touchdown run.  The Cowboys answered with a long drive of their own with big plays from Hoekman and Bender, and ended it with a 13-yard Hazlett touchdown run to reclaim the lead.  A failed conversion made the score 13-7 in favor of the Cowboys.  Constant pressure from the Cowboy defense on the Wamego quarterback helped freeze the Red Raider offense, and Abilene carried their 13-7 lead into halftime.

Coach Simpson talks with the offense during a time out.
Photo by Denise Youtsey  

Early in the second-half, with Wamego threatening in Abilene territory, senior Dalton Goodwin intercepted a pass in the end-zone to help keep the Cowboys in the lead.  The interception led to an 85-yard drive that lasted into the fourth-quarter and ended in an 11-yard touchdown run by Tanner Hoekman.  The Cowboys failed the 2-point-conversion, but the Cowboys now had a two possession lead with the score at 19-7.

Goodwin made his second interception of the night on the next Red Raider drive, the fourth total interception for the Cowboy defense on the night, and returned it to the Red Raider 45-yard-line.  The interception led to another Hazlett touchdown run, which increased their lead to 25-7.  The Red Raiders drove down the field with time running out and scored a touchdown to cut the deficit to 25-14, but it was too little too late, and the Cowboys left Wamego with a victory.

Students celebrating with the team

 in end zone. Photo by Denise Youtsey 

Wamego 14 - Abilene 25
Photo by Denise Youtsey