But during the summer 7-on-7 season, the Chieftains are getting looks at a mixed group that they likely won’t face during the fall.

And the team has done well against the different faces, taking third at a tournament June 7 at Kansas University and sweeping two games against McLouth last Saturday in McLouth.

“Receivers have caught the ball real well and we’ve improved a lot on pass coverage from last year,” coach Mark Elston said. “Last Saturday against McLouth we got to play some young guys who got to step in. They did a really good job for not being a part of it before.”

At the KU tournament, the Chieftains took third out of 32 teams.

Although Tonganoxie lost to Concordia, the team won three games, including victories against the Lawrence High and Liberty, Mo., B teams.

Now the team will focus on a football camp that starts Monday and ends July 25.

On July 26, the team will resume its 7-on-7 season with a home tournament against McLouth, Perry-Lecompton and another team to be named later.

After that, Elston’s team will have preseason practice next month before starting the new season.

The Chieftains will kick off the new campaign Sept. 5 at Wamego.