By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
The Abilene Cowboys were back with a vengeance on Friday night, dominating their biggest rival to win the Battle of Dickinson County in a 42-8 rout.
With this win, Abilene improves to 1-1 while Chapman falls to 1-1.
The Cowboys wasted no time setting the tone, scoring on their opening drive thanks to a 73-yard Taygen Funston touchdown run.
Funston’s debut as Abilene’s starting quarterback would be a rousing success, as the junior tallied four total touchdowns, including three on the ground by the end of the day.
An Abilene fumble at their own 15 set Chapman up in great field position, but the Cowboy defense stood tall, forcing a turnover on downs to reclaim the ball.
That stop would lead to Abilene’s longest drive of the day, capped off by Funston’s second rushing score, this time from 24 yards out.
Lane Hoekman got in on the fun in the second quarter, housing a 45-yard carry up the gut to put the Cowboys in front 21-0.
While most of Funston’s damage came on the ground, the junior also proved his deadliness through the air, delivering a perfect 43-yard touchdown strike to Weston Rock despite throwing on the run and absorbing contact on his release.
Funston and Heath Hoekman would add one more rushing touchdown each before all was said and done, capping off a stretch of seven scores on eight drives for 42 unanswered points.
The Irish would prevent the shutout as Audiel Becker capped off a long drive from the 2, but the damage was done as Abilene rolled to their third-straight win over Chapman in as many years.
The Cowboys will return home next week to face Concordia (0-2), while Chapman remains on the road in Riley County (2-0).