As Wamego relied heavily on connecting through the air, Tonganoxie found the same commitment with the rush in the season opener for both schools.

Wamego amassed 324 passing yards out of 414 yards of total offense. Tonganoxie gained 181 rushing yards, while completing one of only six passes.

But for the Chieftains, four fumbles helped cause enough damage in a 32-12 season opening loss to the Red Raiders.

“We played really well except for the turnovers,” THS coach Mark Elston said.

Defensively, both teams were stingy in the first half. Although Tonganoxie spent much of the half on its side of the 50, Wamego’s lone first-half score came on a 7-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Brady Herman to diving tight end Jay Fath with 7:17 left in the half. The Red Raiders (1-0) threatened again after pinning Tonganoxie inside its own with a punt, but Wamego couldn’t punch in its second score before the half.

“Offensively we didn’t get anything going,” THS coach Mark Elston said about Tonganoxie’s first half troubles.

After the half, Wamego passed its way to another score, this time on wide receiver Cameron Poe’s touchdown catch. Now down 14-0, the Chieftain defense looked to be having trouble as the offense was for much of the game.

Tonganoxie, though, wasn’t finished. THS staged a comeback starting with just less than three minutes left in the third. Senior Chuck Riddle picked off a Wamego pass and rumbled into Wamego territory. Tonganoxie’s running game finally started to gain momentum.

After Wamego was flagged for a late hit on the sideline, Tonganoxie was in the red zone. The penalty was one of 11 for the Raiders, compared to Tonganoxie’s three.

Moments after the flag, junior quarterback Justin Walker ran a keeper into the end zone on second and goal. The Chieftains missed the extra point, but the game was suddenly much different.

On the ensuing kickoff, Wamego bobbled the football and had to start its possession on the Red Raider 17. After forcing a punt, the Chieftains continued to gain momentum when Troy Morando returned the punt to the Wamego 24. On the next play from scrimmage, Walker again kept the ball, this time bouncing off two defenders on his way to the end zone.

Midway through the fourth quarter, the 14-0 lead was suddenly trimmed down to two, thanks to Walker, who split time with Morando at quarterback. Morando also played in the backfield, which became more often when junior Billy Baska missed some of the first half with leg cramps.

“We were down 14-0 so we had to step it up,” Walker said.

Tonganoxie had a strong comeback, but after a two-point conversion failed on a tipped pass, Wamego’s 14-12 lead became much larger.

Wamego marched down into Chieftain territory and scored on a short slant pattern from Herman to junior receiver Matt Campbell.

On Wamego’s next possession, Herman connected with Campbell again, this time on a 67-yard pass. Herman finished the game 16 for 31 with 282 yards.

The Red Raiders final score came on a 67 yard run by senior AJ Patterson with 3.5 second left in the game.

Despite the late scores, Elston was satisfied with his team’s play.

“I was really impressed with the effort,” Elston said. “We’re not in as good of shape as we need to be.”

The Chieftains will prepare for another unfamiliar foe next when they play new Kaw Valley League member Bonner Springs at BSHS.

“They’ll be a little bit bigger and faster than Wamego,” Elston said.