That was the case for Tonganoxie High’s Courtney King on Monday at Chieftain Park.

With a scoreless tie, the junior entered the game against Perry-Lecompton in the second quarter. It seemed that another overtime game was looming for the Tonganoxie Chieftains.

But a few minutes after getting on the field, King made a kick toward the goal. The ball hit the cross bar, dropped and eventually found its way into the goal in the 71st minute.

Tonganoxie 1, Perry-Lecompton 0.

Chieftain teammates piled on King at midfield, and then again after the game. After those celebrations, the initiation finished with a dousing of water.

“That’s why he’s in because he can do it,” THS coach Harold Pittman said.

But King wasn’t the only hero Monday. After Michael Stephenson was called for a handball violation in the goal box, goalie Luke Brown was one-on-one with a Kaw on a free kick. Brown went to his right and the outstretched junior prevented what could have been an easy goal for PLHS.

“That was incredible,” Pittman said.

The Chieftains had a commanding lead in shots on goal with a 22-11 advantage, but couldn’t muster a legal goal until King connected. Junior Travis Andrews had a shot off his head from the middle earlier in the second half, but the Chieftains were called for an offsides.

In the first half, Tonganoxie didn’t have many chances. With an 8-7 advantage in shots on goal, THS didn’t have many looks at the goal, but a 15-3 margin in the second stanza was more favorable.

Some attempts sailed just left or right of the goal in the second half, but Tonganoxie finally connected on one in a tight game.

“That was a nail-biter finish,” Pittman said. “I like that. This time a close game went our way.”

The Chieftains scored the goal while short-handed. Seniors Taylor Sneed and Jeff Wyrick were both slapped with yellow cards for unsporting behavior.

But Tonganoxie (4-5-1) still managed the win with another game the next day. Tonganoxie played Ottawa on Tuesday, but results didn’t make The Mirror’s deadline. Those results will appear in week’s edition, as will next Monday’s home game against Basehor-Linwood.

“Hopefully it will keep us up for next week,” Pittman said about Monday’s game.