Playing in the Sunflower Broadband Channel 6 game of the week against Basehor-Linwood, the Chieftains earned their first shutout of the season with a 35-0 homecoming victory, which put THS in first place in the Kaw Valley League with a 6-0 record.

In addition to the Chieftains having an inside track to a league title, two receivers made dazzling plays that were sure to impress the television viewers.

In the second half, senior Tyler Miles hauled in a one-handed catch from senior quarterback Jeff Hughes on the Tonganoxie sideline at the Basehor-Linwood 30.

THS eventually scored on the drive, thanks to a 14-yard draw play by senior running back Daniel Volk that put THS up, 21-0.

After the game, Miles discussed making the difficult catch.

“I always tell him ‘how am I going to make Sportscenter when you throw them right to me?'” Miles said of conversations with Hughes.

THS coach Mark Elston ranked the catch with some that are made by collegiate and NFL players.

“That’s as good as any Saturday or Sunday you’re ever going to see,” Elston said.

Tonganoxie’s other go-to receiver, senior Zeb Kissinger, didn’t disappoint either. Kissinger, earlier in the half, caught a pass from Hughes in the end zone that initially hit the hands of a Basehor-Linwood defender. But Kissinger stayed focused and was credited with a 21-yard pass reception.

“I was waiting on the ball and then the guy hit it,” Kissinger said. “The old tip drill.”

Tonganoxie scored first in the first quarter on a 32-yard pass play from Hughes to Miles.

After forcing Basehor-Linwood (1-5 overall and 0-5 in the KVL) to go three-and-out, the Bobcats punted back to THS. On the next play, Hughes ran 57 yards for a touchdown and the Chieftains had a 14-0 lead.

After Kissinger and Volk’s scores in the third quarter, Hughes had one final touchdown in him — an 82-yard run in the fourth quarter that pushed the lead to 35-0.

Elston said he was proud that his team adjusted to formations and defenses.

“It’s a testament to our kids and their intelligence and their ability to make adjustments,” Elston said.

Officials called 15 penalties on the night, eight of them on Tonganoxie. And, the game was delayed for some time after a Basehor-Linwood player was injured during a play and taken from the field by an ambulance.

Hughes finished the game with 196 rushing yards on 18 carries and two rushing touchdowns, while Volk had 75 on 13 carries and a touchdown. Todd Brown rushed for 17 yards on five carries, while Beau Bissett had six yards on two carries.

Overall, THS had 294 rushing yards.

Through the air, Hughes was 8-for-12 with two more touchdowns and 138 passing yards. Receiving, Miles had five catches for 74 yards, Kissinger two for 62 and Jesse Sours one for two yards.

That adds up to 432 total offensive yards.

Basehor-Linwood, meanwhile, had 103 total yards — 71 on the ground and 32 through the air.

The Chieftain defense again had a successful night, as Tyler Miles and Boomer Carey each had an interception.

Derek Parrett, Justin McDaniel and Wes Armstrong had nine tackles apiece, while Kissinger and Bryan Morris each tallied eight.

Miles and Volk each had seven.

The Chieftains will look to win the league title outright on Friday.

Perry-Lecompton fell to Piper last Friday, 24-14. The loss dropped the Kaws to 5-1, a game behind THS, which now is in sole possession of first place.

The two teams will meet Friday in Perry.

Tonganoxie will add another league title to its resume, but the Chieftains either will be the outright champs or co-champions after Friday. The game also marks the first week of district play, so a win on the road also would get the Chieftains one step closer to the playoffs.

To do that, THS will have to beat Perry-Lecompton on its home turf for the second consecutive year.

In the final game of the regular season last year, THS prevented Perry-Lecompton from going a perfect 9-0 with a 24-21 overtime victory.

“We’ve still got to go ready to play,” Kissinger said. “We’ve got to bring it when we go over there.

“They’re going to be pretty excited with what happened last year.”

Tonganoxie 35, Basehor-Linwood 0

Score by quarters

Basehor-Linwood 0 0 0 0 — 0
Tonganoxie 14 0 14 7 — 35

How they scored

T — Miles 32 pass from Hughes (Hughes kick)
T — Hughes 57 run (Hughes kick)
T — Kissinger 21 pass from Hughes (Hughes kick)
T — Volk 13 run (Hughes kick)
T — Hughes 82 run (Hughes kick)