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THS tames Wildcats in 50-19 drubbing

By Shawn Linenberger - | Sep 24, 2003

Pick a player, any player.

Against De Soto on Friday, Tonganoxie had six players cross the goal line, but there were no magic tricks, just an offense churning out yards on the ground with an occasional big pass play. Billy Baska, Dustan Sprowls, Kaleb Lawrence, Shane Howard, Tim Hopkins and Justin Walker all scored touchdowns, while Walker had two.

After leading 14-6 heading into the second quarter, Tonganoxie erupted for 28 in the second quarter and sprinted into the locker room with a 43-6 lead. THS added a Justin Walker 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter for the 50-19 win.

Tonganoxie stayed perfect at 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the KVL. De Soto dropped to 2-1 and 2-1.

De Soto made some noise early after THS built an 8-0 lead. On defense again, the Wildcats forced a fumble and a defender ran in the touchdown and De Soto trailed 8-6. The game had hints of a shootout early, but De Soto served up blanks after that. And, after De Soto’s big play, Tonganoxie answered with Sam Mitchell’s 78-yard kickoff return that set up an 11-yard pass from Walker to Sprowls two plays later.

Then, in the second quarter, right before the half, Tonganoxie punched in what arguably was the most exciting touchdown of the evening.

On third and six from the De Soto 17, Walker optioned to the right and had the first down. But at the last minute, he pitched to Baska, who sprinted for the end zone. At the last instant, he leaped over a Wildcat defender and into the end zone.

Although as a coach it can be scary watching those spontaneous pitches, Tonganoxie’s Mark Elston said the two have been on the same wavelength for some time.

“Those two have been together since birth I think,” Elston said.

On Friday, the Chieftains again were clicking on most cylinders as they did the first two weeks. The offense obviously was working, while the Chieftains were perfect on extra-point conversions.

Elston, however, wasn’t thrilled with the other side of the ball when the team returned in the second half with a 43-6 lead.

“I wasn’t very happy with our defense in the second half,” Elston.

For De Soto, meanwhile, coach Brad Scott again couldn’t grab a “W” against the Chieftains.

“We’ve never been in that heated environment,” Scott said. “Last week they played like seniors. This week they played like sophomores and juniors.”

Tonganoxie now will play in Leavenworth against 0-3 Immaculata.