By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
For a second straight season, the Abilene Cowboys dominated the battle for Dickinson County, knocking off Chapman by a final score of 33-6.
With the win, the Cowboys move to 3-1 on the year while the Irish fall to 1-3.
Abilene received the opening kick and any questions about the health of Stocton Timbrook were quickly dashed as the senior led a six-play, 65-yard scoring drive capped off by a six-yard touchdown scamper for Zach Miller to get the Cowboys on the board.
On their very next possession, Abilene handed the rock to Weston Rock on a jet sweep, and the tight end took it 35 yards to the house to quickly put the Cowboys ahead 13-0.
The second quarter saw the Cowboy passing game come alive as Timbrook connected with sophomore Taygen Funston on a 30-yard bomb down the sideline.
Trailing 20-0 and in desperate need of an answer Chapman attempted their first pass of the day as Kelan Gruver delivered a dime to Ian Suther for what should have been a 55-yard touchdown connection, but a penalty took the points off the board and killed any momentum the Irish had built.
Another TD pass, this time to Brax Fisher on a jump ball, allowed the Cowboys to take a 26-0 lead.
On the ensuing drive, the Irish marched the ball all the way down the field, finding the red zone for the first time all night, but a Fisher interception at the goal line with just 1:00 to play before intermission more or less put the game out of reach.
Both defenses tightened the screws in the second half, trading one touchdown each, but it was Abilene who cruised to the victory.
The Cowboys will stay on the road next week for a battle with the Rose Hill Rockets while the Irish travel to Wichita Collegiate to battle the Spartans.