The reward has been worth the wait for Brad Nicks and Abilene.
 
Or maybe worth the weight.
 
When Nicks took over the Abilene program in 2020, the Cowboys were coming off a winless 2019 season. In a COVID-abbreviated 2020 season, Abilene went 0-6. Last year, it was 0-9 again.
 
But Nicks saw progress. Where he knew the Cowboys needed it.
 
“The biggest key has been the weight room and maturity,” Nicks said. “These kids have worked really hard the past two years in the weight room and we had great participation this summer.”
 
That dedication is translating into wins for Abilene this season. The Cowboys ended a 25-game losing streak dating back to 2018 with a 14-7 win over Marysville in the season opener. Abilene's previous victory came over Ulysses in the 2018 regular-season finale with the Cowboys falling to Ulysses in the playoffs the following week to end a 4-5 season.
 
Last week, Abilene picked off a big win, taking down Concordia 27-8 to move to 2-0 for the first time since 2016 – the last year the Cowboys won the North Central Kansas League title.
 
“I have seen our confidence grow each day, especially with the last two wins,” Nicks said. “The men understand their role on our team and what they have to do so we can be at our best on Fridays. We have a very competitive group of kids that play so hard and never let one play’s outcome determine the next play.”
 
Abilene entered the season returning six starters on offense and four on defense. The bulk of those returners are underclassmen who were thrown into the fire as freshmen and sophomores the past two seasons.
 
That experience has been a key. 
 
Junior quarterback Stocton Timbrook, in his third year as starter, has thrown for more than 140 yards and two touchdowns in each win this season after topping 1,000 yards last year. He hit 18 of 28 passes for 149 yards and two scores against Concordia, connecting on both scoring passes with Weston Rock.
 
Tailback Zach Miller has run for 192 yards on the season, getting 113 against Concordia.
 
But the defensive strides have been a huge key. After giving up at least 28 points or more in all but one game last year (43.5 per game) and yielding 55.3 points per game in 2020, the Cowboys have allowed just two touchdowns so far this season. Joseph Welsh leads the unit with 18 tackles.
 
“We played with a lot of young kids the past two years,” Nicks said. “Our maturity and experience is paying off for us now.”
 
Abilene (2-0) will take on Clay Center (1-1) this Friday with the Tigers coming off a 24-0 win over Chapman last week. The Cowboys won’t see defending league champion Wamego until Week 8.
 
 
STREAK BUSTERS, PART II
 
If Abilene’s wait for victory was long, Horton’s was even longer.
 
After getting routed 61-7 by Jackson Heights in Week 1, the Chargers entered Friday’s game with Northeast Kansas League rival McLouth on a 39-game losing streak. But that all ended when the Chargers broke away from an early tie to beat the Bulldogs 22-14.
 
It was the program’s first win since late in the 2017 season when Horton beat – yep – McLouth, 46-14.
 
“I was extremely excited for our team,” said Horton athletic director and strength coach Nick Dowell, who was the Chargers’ coach in 2017. “We have continued to focus on improvement every day, week and we are very proud of our team and their effort.”
 
Jack Allen keyed the Charger victory, throwing for 148 yards and 2 TDs and also rushing for 60 yards and a score. Cooper Strube and Trent Lockwood each caught a touchdown pass.
 
Horton (1-1) will look to add another win to the ledger this Friday, taking on Valley Falls (0-2). The Dragons returned to 11-player football this season after a six-year stint at the eight-player level.
 
WEEK 2 INDIVIDUAL STANDOUTS

• Highland Park, which ended its 65-game losing streak in the season opener, won its second straight, beating KC Schlagle 48-29. Tre Richardson had another monster game, rushing for 222 yards and 3 TDs and catching 5 passes for 252 yards and 4 scores. Kei’Juan Johnson threw for 272 yards and 4 scores.
• Southeast of Saline dominated its showdown with Beloit, rolling to a 43-6 win. Luke Gebhardt threw for 278 yards and a touchdown and Nathan Friesen ran for 4 TDs.
• Washington County ran for 460 yards and eight touchdowns as a team in a 52-30 romp past Frankfort. Payton LeDuc led the Tigers with 205 yards and three touchdowns while Trenton Zenger added 183 yards and 3 TDs as well.
• Nemaha Central’s Cooper Hajek followed up his big opening-game performance against Holton with another strong showing in the Thunder’s 71-15 win over Royal Valley. After rushing for 200 yards against Holton, Hajek ran for 134 yards and 4 TDs against Royal Valley. Brayden Uphaus threw for 149 yards and 4 TDs as well, hitting Wade Leonard for a pair of scores.
• For the second straight week, Washburn Rural rallied in the fourth quarter for a victory, topping De Soto 28-21. Branton DeWeese threw for 214 yards and 3 TDs with Titan Osburn catching a pair of the touchdown passes. Ma’Kenttis Adams ran for 150 yards and Ty Weber had a whopping 24 tackles.
• Shawnee Heights’ Allen Baughman ran for 222 yards and 5 TDs to lead the T-Birds to a 46-23 win over Lansing.
• Rossville bounced back from its season-opening loss to St. Marys with a 36-15 win over Riley County. Kade Perine ran for 138 yards and 3 TDs.
• Jackson Biggs threw a pair of touchdowns passes and ran for a score to lead Lyndon to a 48-0 win over Herington.
• Osage City ran for 339 yards as a team in rolling past Burlington 44-20. Senior quarterback Landon Boss ran for 212 yards and 2 TDs and Cooper Parsons added 93 yards and 3 TDs on the ground.
• Koy Myers and Brantley Petersen each topped 100 yards on the ground and combined for five touchdowns as Waverly beat Altoona-Midway 51-6. Myers ran for 115 yards and two scores and Petersen added 109 yards and 3 TDs.
• Madison’s Hayden Helm completed 10 of 11 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown as the Bulldogs blanked Marais des Cygnes Valley 52-0. Bryson Turner ran for 4 TDs.
• Perry-Lecompton’s Gunna Ball accounted for 290 total yards and three touchdowns in the Kaws’ 35-12 win over Riverside. Ball threw for 209 yards and 2 TDs.
• Burlingame’s Colby Middleton ran for 131 yards and 4 TDs and also threw for 124 yards and 3 TDs, leading the Bearcats to a big 54-6 win over Lebo. Dane Winters caught 7 passes for 127 yards and 2 TDs.
• Chase County rode Mitch Budke to a wild 70-54 shootout win over Colony-Crest. Budke threw for 201 yards and 3 TDs and ran for 238 yards and 3 more scores. Cal Kohlmeier added 107 yards and 2 TDs on the ground and Tanner Groh had 124 yards and 2 TDs receiving.
• Council Grove improved to 2-0 with a 23-0 win over Mission Valley as Ace Monihen threw for 167 yards.
• Minneapolis’ Ryan Parks threw for 113 yards and 4 TDs to lead the Lions to a 37-0 win over Sacred Heart.
• Holton bounced back from its opening loss to Nemaha Central, topping Sabetha 35-14. Garyson Booth ran for 243 yards and a TD as Holton rushed for 440 yards as a team.
• Bishop Ward picked off a 16-13 win over Olpe behind a pair of 100-yard passers. Jashaun Holiday completed 6 of 7 passes for 104 yards and 2 TDs and Aiden Milliren added 128 yards passing on 13-of-18 accuracy. Jalen Pickens caught both TD passes and had 86 yards.