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Position in league on line for THS

By Shawn Linenberger - | Sep 20, 2006

Television networks hyped Saturday’s college football schedule as “Separation Saturday” because so many ranked teams happened be playing one another that day.

With victories, winning teams would climb in the polls, while the unfortunate losers would take hits in the rankings.

Perhaps ABC or ESPN should televise a big game on tap this week in Tonganoxie.

THS and Mill Valley, both undefeated at 3-0, will square off at 7 p.m. Friday at Beatty Field.

“No room for weak sisters in this one,” THS coach Mark Elston said. “It should be a good contest. We’re looking forward to it.”

Although rankings don’t carry as much merit in high school as they do in Division I college football, Kaw Valley League title hopes will be at stake on Friday. Tonganoxie and Mill Valley are two of four teams still undefeated in the KVL. After Friday, only two teams will remain unblemished in the league because the other two — Santa Fe Trail and Perry-Lecompton — also will face off Friday.

Tonganoxie, which trounced Mill Valley 39-0 last year, will take on a Jaguar team that already has more wins this year than it did during the entire 2005 campaign when MVHS finished 2-7.

Mill Valley features an explosive backfield led by Justin Woods that should be a challenge for a Tonganoxie defense that allowed just nine rushing yards against Bonner Springs on Friday.

“That’s why we were so focused on Bonner because they have three athletes who could score from any place on the field,” Elston said.

Tonganoxie’s schedule doesn’t get an easier after playing the Jaguars.

THS will play Santa Fe Trail next week and Perry-Lecompton on Oct. 13.

And, on Oct. 20, the Chieftains will face Atchison, another undefeated squad.

“It’s shaping up to be a very challenging schedule from this point forward,” Elston said. “If we’re going to do anything we’re going to have to really, really concentrate from this point forward.”