Abilene Cowboys Stomp out Wamego Red Raiders

“Homecoming Kings”

Prior to Abilene’s homecoming game against the Wamego Red Raiders, defensive coaches preparing to face the Cowboys had a relatively uncomplicated job. Uncomplicated because in order to stop Abilene’s offense, a coach would need to prepare his team to stop Abilene’s two star seniors:  Harley Hazlett and Trey Bender. Of course uncomplicated is not synonymous with easy, and no defense has been able through four games to contain both Hazlett and Bender. Defensive coaches preparation for Abilene may, after a 48-13 dismantling of the Red Raiders by the Cowboys, have gone from uncomplicated and difficult to very complicated and next to impossible.

 

Trey Bender - Twitter Image

Harley Hazlett - Facebook Image

On Friday night in Abilene, Hazlett turned in his finest performance in three years as a Cowboy starter. Bender did his usual by rushing for two touchdowns and again showing himself to be a weapon in Abilene’s passing game. The best part of the win though for Coach Simpson and Cowboy fans was that Hazlett and Bender did not stand out as they had in Abilene’s first three games. Five different Cowboys scored touchdowns on the night. In addition to Bender and Hazlett, who also scored twice on the ground, Ben Veach and Ryan LaCombe both caught touchdown passes and sophomore speed merchant Dominick Campbell scored his first varsity touchdown as well. Touchdowns were not the only story though. A very effective passing game which began to show signs of life last week at Concordia bloomed in full Friday night. In addition to his 100 plus yards rushing, Hazlett completed 8 of 9 attempts for 180 yards and two touchdowns. Ryan Wilson caught two passes for nearly 90 yards continuing to show signs of being a play maker. Hazlett completed passes to Parker O’Neal, Bender, Veach, LaCombe, and Wilson.

Ryan LaCombe - Facebook Image

Parker O'Neal - Facebook Image

As strange as it may sound, on a night when Abilene scored on all but two of its offensive possessions, the defense probably outperformed the offense. After both teams punted on their first possession, Wamego looked to be gaining a rhythm offensively until Cale Mayden made a huge tackle for a loss putting the Red Raiders behind the chains. Following the ensuing punt, the Cowboys scored at will. Perhaps the turning point of the game came late in the first half following Abilene’s third touchdown. With less than a minute to play, Ryan LaCombe kicked off to the Red Raiders. Wamego broke through Abilene’s initial line of defenders on the return, and LaCombe made a touchdown saving tackle. On the next play, Wamego’s quarterback was forced from the pocket and looked to be throwing a pass out of bounds. Dylan Ford intercepted the pass and tiptoed just inside the Abilene sideline to secure another possession for the Cowboys before the half. Ford’s play may have been the best of the night on a night filled with great plays. Hazlett went to work following Ford’s interception by completing a 60 yard strike to Wilson which set up Abilene’s final touchdown of the half as Hazlett found Ben Veach alone in the end zone with only 1 second left on the clock. This made the score at half, 26-0 in favor of Abilene and rendered the outcome inevitable.

Dylan Ford - Facebook Image

 

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Simpson’s Cowboys revealed that not only is Bender an effective runner, but so are the Parker brothers. O’Neal was very good on the ground and as a receiver; Base showed himself to be a very capable change of pace back for Bender. In the third quarter, Simpson decided to take control of the clock, and as he did two weeks ago in Marysville, he called upon senior workhorse Colton Liby. Liby punished an already worn down Wamego defense fulfilling his role to perfection.

Nathan Howard’s defense turned in a fine performance again. Wamego is a very good offensive team, and Abilene’s defense played with discipline and a level of physicality that made for a long night for the Red Raiders.

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This team is growing up. Certainly it is early in the season, and there is much more growing to do, but Friday night offered a glimpse of the kind of team these Cowboys can be. On homecoming, it must have been satisfying for all the former Cowboys and Cowgirls to witness. For an upcoming opponent though, the performance was likely less a source of satisfaction than a source of anxiety. 

The JV defeated Concordia on Monday by a score of 28-0, and the Freshmen were victorious over Concordia by a score of 42-0 on Tuesday evening.

Varsity MVP’s for Concordia:
Offense    Trey Bender
Defense Parker Base
Special teams    Parker O’Neal
Practice Riley Sliechter

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