The Lions, after all, defeated the Chieftains 4-2 in their first game, a contest in which three Chieftain starters didn’t play.

The full-strength Tonganoxie didn’t fare any better against the Lions on Monday in Lansing.

The Lions put goal after goal on the board for a 10-2 victory that dropped the Chieftains to 4-6-1 on the year.

Tonganoxie actually looked good early on. In the opening minutes, Tonganoxie had a penalty kick and two other scoring chances, but the Chieftains couldn’t capitalize.

“We were on our heels,” Denney said. “We couldn’t put two passes together.”

Travis Schultz and Kirk Rodell did score for the Chieftains, but the scores came late in the game.

Tonganoxie now has a week of rescheduling ahead of it.

Wednesday’s game against Mill Valley in Tonganoxie is a make-up game for the season opener Aug. 27 that was postponed because of lightning. That game will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Saturday’s make-up games for the Sept. 16 game will be at 10 a.m. (junior varsity) and noon (varsity) at Piper.

Tonganoxie 5, Basehor-Linwood 0

If only Monday’s game against Lansing could have been a repeat of last Thursday’s home victory against Basehor-Linwood.

The Chieftains needed overtime to beat the Bobcats in Basehor earlier this season, but the rematch was all Tonganoxie as five THS players scored single goals in the rout.

Kirk Rodell scored swiftly in the first half. In the fourth minute, Rodell took an assist from Brad Willis and put the Chieftains up, 1-0.

Rodell returned the favor in the 27th minute with an assist to Willis as the Chieftains went into the half with a 2-0 advantage.

Jacob Poterbin kept the Tonganoxie advantage going with an unassisted goal in the 12th minute of the second half.

Zack Mayse then took an assist from Josh Nowasell in the 13th minute before Travis Schultz scored the final THS goal in the 17th minute with an assist from Willis.

Tonganoxie outshot Basehor-Linwood by a 35-7 margin, including a 17-2 advantage in the first half. Tonganoxie’s Shane Gober had five saves, compared to Basehor-Linwood’s 15 on the game. Basehor-Linwood committed 15 fouls to Tonganoxie’s 13.

The Chieftains got a boost last week with the return of senior defender Jake McGhee, who missed a previous game because of a college visit to the United States Military Academy.

“He’s a good player,” Denney said. “He never gives up. He always fights with every last ounce in his body.”

Ottawa 3, Tonganoxie 2

The Chieftains dropped a Sept. 28 match to Ottawa, the team’s third game in four days that week.

Ottawa scored first, but Tonganoxie answered that goal and again after trailing 2-1. The Cyclones, however, scored the game-winner in the second half for the victory.

“Our guys were just dead,” Denney said, noting the team’s busy week.

THS has one more non-league contest — the season finale at home against Eudora.