By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
For three straight seasons, Abilene struggled mightily on the gridiron, failing to post a single win in a brutal span of 25 games.
Despite these past shortcomings, the Cowboys never hung their heads, diligently putting in the work and trusting that their rebuild would eventually bear fruit.
Heading into week three of the 2022 campaign Abilene is, somewhat unbelievably, one of just 11 teams in Class 4A with a 2-0 record with statement victories over Marysville and Concordia.
“It really does feel like a new day has dawned here with Abilene Football,” Cowboys head coach Brad Nicks said. “The kids were so optimistic and we had great attendance and effort in the offseason. Watching them start to see all their hard work pay off has been great.”
It seemed only fitting that the program's first win in over 1,400 long days came in front of a home crowd, as the Cowboys stifled Marysville in a hard-fought 14-7 victory, sending the Abilene faithful into raptures.
“The energy after that game was ridiculous,” Nicks said. “There were people that were acting like we had just won the super bowl and I felt some of that energy too. We enjoyed the win but by Sunday we were focused on Concordia and the kids were already ready for the next challenge.”
While many in Abilene’s shoes would have gotten complacent after snapping such a streak, the Cowboys wasted no time preparing for a Concordia team that made an appearance in last year’s 3A state quarterfinals.
In week two, Abilene proved to themselves, their community, and the state that their week one win was no fluke, handing the Panthers a resounding 27-8 defeat in Concordia.
“The confidence that has come with these first few wins is huge,” Nicks said. “We’re a lot stronger than what we have been the last couple of years and I think that along with our mental toughness and experience has really paid off.”
While wins on the gridiron are still a relatively new experience for this roster, Abilene has built a culture of excellence in athletics, and with a newfound taste of success, that culture has infiltrated the Cowboy's locker room.
“The kids in this class are proven winners,” he said. “Our baseball team went to state for the first time in school history, we’ve had success in track and field and our basketball program has gone to state for the last two years. A lot of these kids were on those teams and they’re used to having success, they’ve always known how to win.”
One of the biggest on-field factors behind Abilene’s newfound success comes in the form of a defense that allowed just 15 points through the first two weeks after surrendering a dismal 44 points a game in 2021.
“The biggest gains we’ve made have been in the weight room and in our maturity,” Nicks said. “They’re swarming to the football relentlessly and our tackling has gotten a lot better. That tenacity on defense has been one of our biggest improvements.”
While many in Abilene viewed Coach Nicks' vision of hosting a playoff game in week nine to be little more than wishful thinking, the third-year skipper stood by his ideals, trusting in the work his group put in over the summer.
“I’ve always been a big believer that kids will rise to meet your expectations,” he said. “If you set the bar low then that’s what kids will get you. We still want to host that week-nine game, that goal hasn’t changed.”
There is still much work to be done if the Cowboys are to win their first postseason game since 2015, but with two wins under their belts already, the future is looking bright in Abilene.
The Cowboys will travel to Clay Center on Friday for a tilt with the Tigers before taking on Chapman on September 23.