By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
Wamego’s might was on full display in a week eight battle at Abilene, as the Raiders (6-2) handed the Cowboys (6-2) just their second loss of the season 38-14.
Abilene kept things close going into the intermission, but the Raider running game, and more specifically Thomas McIntyre, could not be stopped.
By the time the final whistle blew, the senior tailback had carried the ball 32 times for 232 yards and four touchdowns.
After forcing a quick three and out, Wamego fumbled the ball away on their first series of the game, but their defense needed just three more plays to get off the field.
Their next two drives were capped off by short touchdown runs for McIntyre, as the Raiders jumped out to an early 14-0 lead.
From there, the Abilene offense got to work, shortening their passes and stringing together an impressive drive that concluded with a 29-yard strike from Stocton Timbrook to Weston Rock.
Wamego would answer with another McIntyre touchdown of their own, but the Cowboys had one last scoring drive in them, and thanks to another Timbrook to Rock connection, trailed just 24-14 at the half.
The third quarter was uneventful, with both teams trading picks, but the fourth quarter belonged to the Raiders, who turned Abilene over two more times defensively, and scored 14 unanswered points to put the game on ice 38-14.
Both teams will open the postseason at home next week as the Raiders play host to El Dorado and the Cowboys entertain Ark City.