Turnovers spoil homecoming
Lisa Scheller/Mirror photo
Homecoming royalty sat for an official photo at the pep rally. Pictured front row, from left, are Ariel Dowdle, Candi Barnes, Jennifer Reischman, Megan Needham, Amber Carpenter, Beth Knetter and Janelle McCoy. Back row, Tony Aligo, Taylor Sneed, Andrew Miller, Jon Gripka, Jacob Walker, Troy Morando and Jeremy Willis. At Tonganoxie's football game Friday night, Troy Morando was crowned homecoming king, and Janelle McCoy was crowned homecoming queen.
Committing eight turnovers usually spells doom for any team and can lead to a romp for the opponent.
That had to make Tonganoxie’s 12-6 loss to undefeated Mill Valley even tougher. The Chieftains fell behind early 6-0 after a fumble, but contained Mill Valley defensively until the fourth quarter when John Gooden broke free for a 21-yard touchdown run. Tonganoxie fought back with a James Hartshorn 1-yard run and had another chance late, but the Chieftains couldn’t muster a homecoming win in the first meeting between the two schools.
“Mistakes just killed us,” Chieftain coach Mark Elston said.
Aside from the turnovers, the teams put up similar numbers. Both run-oriented squads, Tonganoxie had 143 yards on 40 carries. Mill Valley registered 165 yards on 48 carries. Tonganoxie put the ball in the air 14 times, completing five of them for 66 yards. Mill Valley passed just nine times twice in the second half for 55 yards.
When Mill Valley did pass, Chieftains were usually there to knock down a pass, especially senior safety Troy Morando, who said his team knew coming in that the Jaguars also liked to stay on the ground. The homecoming king was crowned before the game and was key in Tonganoxie’s effort, but the loss soured an otherwise special night.
Lisa Scheller/Mirror photo
The Tonganoxie High School Dance Team members showed their school spirit at Friday's homecoming pep rally, held downtown on Fourth Street. From left are Lauren Donnelly, Laura Samuels, Desirae Rieke, Casey Worden, Lindsey Starcher, Courtney Hoffines and Jennifer Saultz.
Morando, though, was encouraged by some things Tonganoxie did.
“I think everybody played their guts out,” Morando said. “We just need to get the small things right.”
The Chieftains had obvious miscues Friday, but Elston was encouraged by an overall strong defensive effort. He also was proud of a shuffled offensive line that was altered because of junior lineman Luke McCarty’s injury.
Mill Valley (6-0 overall and 6-0 in the Kaw Valley League) used two long returns by sophomore David Woods, one on a kickoff and another on a punt, to cause more problems for Tonganoxie.
And when the Jags rarely coughed up the football, Tonganoxie turned it over moments later.
Lisa Scheller/Mirror photo
Among THS students participating in homecoming festivities Friday afternoon were, from left, Austin Wilson, Coy Mitchell, Cory Doughty, Andy Eisman, Dan O'Hare, Chris Clark, Richard Reischman and Dustin Wagner.
Now 3-3 overall and 3-2 in the KVL, the Chieftains open district play with a Friday game at Piper. The Pirates are 2-4 after a win against Perry-Lecompton on Friday. The Chieftains then finish the season with Basehor-Linwood (0-6) and Lansing (2-4).
The top two teams from each district advance to the playoffs.
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- Homecoming royalty sat for an official photo at the pep rally. Pictured front row, from left, are Ariel Dowdle, Candi Barnes, Jennifer Reischman, Megan Needham, Amber Carpenter, Beth Knetter and Janelle McCoy. Back row, Tony Aligo, Taylor Sneed, Andrew Miller, Jon Gripka, Jacob Walker, Troy Morando and Jeremy Willis. At Tonganoxie’s football game Friday night, Troy Morando was crowned homecoming king, and Janelle McCoy was crowned homecoming queen.
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- The Tonganoxie High School Dance Team members showed their school spirit at Friday’s homecoming pep rally, held downtown on Fourth Street. From left are Lauren Donnelly, Laura Samuels, Desirae Rieke, Casey Worden, Lindsey Starcher, Courtney Hoffines and Jennifer Saultz.
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- Among THS students participating in homecoming festivities Friday afternoon were, from left, Austin Wilson, Coy Mitchell, Cory Doughty, Andy Eisman, Dan O’Hare, Chris Clark, Richard Reischman and Dustin Wagner.