By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
After a dismal stretch of three-straight winless campaigns, the Abilene football program executed a rapid two-year rebuild, culminating in a 7-3 finish with a playoff win over Ark City last season.
That turnaround was orchestrated by now fifth-year head coach Brad Nicks, and a senior class that worked tirelessly for four years, to restore not only the football program, but Abilene athletics as a whole, to their former glory.
“In some ways those guys can’t be replaced, they laid the foundation of who we are today,” Nicks said. “But we’ve got a lot of new kids stepping up who want to continue this tradition. We’ll look different but we’re still going to do what we do and take pride in how hard we play.”
Despite losing mainstays like quarterback Stocton Timbrook, lead wideout Brax Fisher, and defensive stars like Keaton Hargrave, Kayden Timm and Zach Miller, the cupboards in Abilene are far from bare ahead of the 2024 season.
On offense, Weston Rock and Taygan Funston return at wideout to compliment first-year starter Aaron Hartman under center.
“I know Aaron is going to do a great job for us,” Nicks said. “He’s a really great leader, the kids love him and he’s a very intelligent QB.”
On defense, the Cowboys return more than half of their starters, including anchors like Landon Taplin, Heath Hoekman, Devin Alvarez and Tyler Holloway, as well as Rock, Funston, and others.
“We bring back a lot on defense and that feels like a big strength for us,” he said. “We take a lot of pride in our defense and the kids are really good about staying physical and tough, sprinting to the football and really getting after it.”
The graduation of Abilene’s senior class will also pave the path for new stars like running back Lane Hoekman, linemen Pierce Casteel and Canyn Taylor, linebacker Kash Hargrave and safety Kayden Thrower to play bigger roles after tearing up the JV field.
“Our JV has only lost five games in three years and I think that experience will pay dividends on Friday nights,” Nicks said. “Our goal is to develop players through that JV system and we’re excited to see those guys step up in bigger roles and carry on our tradition.”
While the potential for Abilene remains high, this year will also serve as a test for a Cowboy program with no intention of going back to middling play on the field.
“I feel like we’ve created a culture that’s built to last and the idea that ‘tradition never graduates’ is one that we’ve really made a part of our program,” Nicks said. “We had great participation in summer weights and in our offseason work, they’ve done an outstanding job.”
Despite playing a gauntlet of a schedule, expectations remain high ahead of the 2024 kickoff this week.
“Our seniors are excited," he said. "We want to host another playoff game and get another playoff victory. We try not to put the cart ahead of the horse and the NCKL has gotten even better with the addition of Rock Creek this year.”
Abilene will be challenged right out of the gates when they travel to Clay Center to take on the Tigers this Friday night.
2024 Abilene Schedule
9/6: at Clay Center
9/13: vs. Chapman
9/20: vs. Concordia
9/27: at Rock Creek
10/4: vs. Marysville
10/11: vs. Augusta
10/18: at El Dorado
10/25: at Wamego