Chieftains hold on at Parsons
After a major setback to Santa Fe Trail on Sept. 28, a three-hour trip to Parsons on Friday seemed to get Tonganoxie back on track.
The Chieftains took a 14-0 lead in the half and held on in the second half for a 14-12 win.
“It was closer than it should have been,” THS coach Mark Elston said.
The Chieftain defense was the highlight for Tonganoxie. Parsons (2-4) finished with 151 yards of total offense, but 128 of those came on the touchdowns. Wide receiver Aaron Bowin slipped through three tackles on his way to an 85-yard touchdown pass play. Quarterback Levi King added a 43-yard touchdown run. Parsons drove to the THS five-yard line during another series, but Tonganoxie denied the Vikings a score.
“The defense was phenomenal,” Elston said. “That was probably their best game defensively.”
Senior wide receiver Matt Alexander was the difference in the score, hauling in a Troy Morando two-point conversion pass.
Because of a strong Parsons kicker, the Chieftains were going to go for the safe extra point, but kicker Pat Weyer was without a tee momentarily, and Tonganoxie went for two.
“If you make it, you’re the hero,” Elston said. “If you don’t, you look like an idiot.”
Tonganoxie (4-2 overall and 3-1 in the Kaw Valley League) got a boost before district play with a win against the Vikings. The Chieftains now face Piper in district play. The Pirates are 1-5, but Elston said everyone is 0-0 with the start of districts.
Friday’s game is senior night and the last home game of the season. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.