Abilene Cowboys Over Marysville Bulldogs

“Liby right, Liby left”

by Eirk Graefe

Homer Hanson Field

Homer Hanson field is easily the most picturesque of all the stadiums of the North Central Kansas League. On Friday night at Homer Hanson, the weather and atmosphere matched the beauty of the stadium. For the Abilene Cowboys, any notion that the game against the Marysville Bulldogs would also match were quelled after the first three series. As the Cowboys were moving the ball on their opening possession, Marysville forced and recovered a fumble by the normally sure handed Harley Hazlett. Marysville advanced deep in to Cowboy territory on their ensuing drive only to have a pass intercepted by junior Ryan Wilson. 

 

Click For Video - Colton Liby Scores for Abilene

During the return, Abilene’s Trey Bender landed on the wrong end of an official’s call which found him inexplicably ejected from the game. Bender is easily Abilene’s most effective running back and a leader on the defensive side of the ball as well. Abilene seemed to right the ship following Wilson’s turnover only to fumble away another opportunity near the Bulldog 20 yard line. At the end of one quarter, the score was tied at 0, and the Bulldogs were refusing to play the role of patsy for a seemingly overconfident Cowboy team. 

Harley Hazlett - Facebook Image

Trey Bender - Twitter Image

The contest changed just before the end of the first quarter when Steve Simpson decided to simplify his offensive attack and ride on the shoulders of Bender’s replacement, senior Colton Liby. 

Steve Simpson Head Coach AHS (photo from USD 435 Website)

On Liby’s first carry, he barreled through an overmatched Bulldog interior line behind two battering rams in the forms of Parker O’Neal and sophomore Bryce Riekeman for an eight yard gain. If the fans from Abilene travelled all the way to Marysville to watch their high-flying Cowboys score on quick strike big plays, they would be disappointed on this night. Liby’s initial eight yard gain was the first of thirty carries for the senior work horse. Liby finished the game with a total of 115 yards, but more importantly, because of Liby and some workman like blocking, the Cowboys had proven to themselves that they could win ugly.

Parker O'Neal - Facebook Image

Bryce Riekeman - Facebook Image

Nathan Howard’s defense was stout, and never really allowed a good Marysville team to get in to an offensive rhythm. Jovany Garcia anchored the interior, while the linebackers and secondary were solid all night. In addition to Wilson’s interception, Sam Burt recovered a fumble and Michael Anguiano was inches away from a pick six after replacing Bender in the defensive secondary.

Nathan Howard - Linkedin Image

Jovany Garcia - Facebook Image

Sam Burt - Facebook Image

Michael Anguiano - Facebook Image

Abilene’s first touchdown came in the second quarter as Hazlett lulled the Bulldog defense to sleep with several handoffs in a row to Liby and Parker Base. Base showed a flash of Cowboy quick strike capability on the drive as he turned what should have been a loss on a sweep play into a fifteen yard gain down to the Bulldog six. From there, Hazlett kept the Bulldogs off balance by faking a handoff to Liby while keeping it himself and sprinting to the pylon for a 6-0 lead. Senior kicker, Ryan LaCombe converted the first of his three extra points, turning in a perfect night. The Bulldogs were given nothing on the next series by Howard’s defense and were forced to punt from their own 20 yard line. Junior Parker Base crashed through Marysville’s line and blocked the punt, setting the Cowboys up for their second score. This time, Hazlett called Liby’s number inside the five yard line and Colton had his first touchdown of the year. The score would remain 14-0 at half. 

Click for Video - Parker Base Blocks Punt

Ryan LaCombe - Facebook Image

 

Parker Base - Facebook Image

Abilene ran the ball for nearly the entire third quarter, essentially slowly squeezing away any chance for a Bulldog comeback on the strength of Liby’s legs coupled with fine blocking from his teammates. Midway through the fourth, Parker Base made another play with a devastating tackle on a Bulldog running back which sent the ball to the turf, ending up in the arms of Sam Burt. From there, the Cowboy offense returned to the slow squeeze. Hazlett scored his second touchdown of the night, sealing the deal with just over 6 minutes remaining in the contest.

Click for Video - Hazlett Seal The Game!!

The weather was perfect, Homer Hanson stadium was perfect, but Steve Simpson would tell you that his Cowboys effort was anything but on Friday night. Turnovers, mistakes, ejections, and missed assignments have a way of leaving a sour taste in a team’s mouth even in victory. The Cowboys will regroup and prepare for a good Concordia team on the road again next Friday. Still, Friday night’s game at Homer Hanson, when all is said and done, was a road victory against a tough league opponent. Not to mention, a shutout. The Cowboys proved to themselves on Friday that they can win ugly, just as they’ve proven they can win with highlight plays. Most notably, Colton Liby emerged in a huge way when his team needed him the most. Abilene 21, Marysville 0. That actually is beautiful.

Notes from last week:

The JV won over Royal Valley 28-0.

The Freshmen team beat Southeast of Saline, 28-6.

For the varsity awards during Royal Valley week:

            Practice player of the week: Bryce Riekeman

            Defensive MVP:         Jovany Garcia

            Offensive MVP:         Harley Hazlett

            Special Teams MVP:  Jason Tarn

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