No. 5 in the East Bracket, THS went to No. 4 Fort Scott for the first meeting between the schools ever.

The back-and-forth contest eventually ended with Tonganoxie holding on for a 34-28 playoff victory.

Tonganoxie got things started with a 56-yard touchdown reception from Talon Langford to Todd Brown. THS scored with 8:40 left in the first quarter, but Cody Lobb, who had connected for a whopping 29 consecutive extra points as a freshman, missed his first extra point of the season and Tonganoxie was up, 6-0. Fort Scott responded with a 7-yard touchdown run and converted the two-point conversion and led, 8-6. Tonganoxie would respond with another touchdown, another Langford-to-Brown 50-plus reception. A two-point conversion was unsuccessful, so THS was up, 12-8.

Fort Scott would answer with 14 unanswered points and take a 22-12 lead into halftime. The Tigers had all the momentum, but the Chieftains would go on a run of their own.

Langford once again found Brown for another big score, as Brown scampered down the THS sideline for a 54-yard touchdown reception. Lobb’s extra point made it 22-19.

THS scored again with a 1-yard run from Tanner Hand and Tonganoxie was up, 26-22.

Fort Scott answered again just 3 seconds into the fourth quarter and the visitors again were behind in what could have been the final quarter of the season.

But on Tonganoxie’s next possession, on third-and-7 at the 22, Langford was able to take the ball himself for 17 yards and keep the drive going even deeper in Fort Scott territory.

Hand then took the ball in on the ground from 5 yards out and THS took the 32-28 lead. Langford converted the two-point conversion and Tonganoxie was up, 34-28, with 7:40 left in the fourth quarter.

The Tonganoxie defense would then rise to the occasion.

Kendall Smith got a sack with 6:17 left, a strip sack that led to a fumble recovery by Marko Stephen at the Fort Scott 24.

THS couldn’t take advantage of the short field and a shot at putting the game away.

Tonganoxie turned the ball over on downs and Fort Scott started putting together a potential game-winning drive on the next possession.

The Tigers got just inside Chieftain territory, but Smith was able to get another sack and FSHS faced a fourth-and-20 situation with 1:04 left in the game.

Elijah Holthaus followed Smith up with a sack of his own and Fort Scott turned the ball over on downs with no timeouts left.

The Chieftains then went into the victory formation and escaped with a 34-28 victory.

Langford went 9-for-16 for 222 yards and three passing touchdowns.

Brown had a whale of a game with six receptions for 178 yards and three touchdowns.

Tanner Hand led the rushing brigade with 18 carries for 98 yards and two touchdowns.

Tonganoxie improved to 7-3, while Fort Scott ended its season at 6-4.

THS will be at home for a big rematch with No. 8 Lansing (6-4) in the sectional round.

The Lions knocked off No. 1 Atchison (8-2) by a 23-15 score at AHS.

Earlier this season, Tonganoxie outlasted Lansing, 14-13 at LHS. The Lions was oh so close to punching a game-winning score in the final minute of the game, but Tonganoxie recovered a fumble at the 1-yard-line and held on for the victory.

If Tonganoxie wins again Friday, the Chieftains will either be at No. 3 Chanute (8-2) or at home against No. 15 Bishop Miege (3-7) in the substate round a week later.