ATCHISON ? The namesake of Atchison High’s football stadium didn’t really fit the mood of Tuesday night’s Class 4A first-round state playoff game.

At least in the first half.

Atchison and Tonganoxie stayed on the ground early at Amelia Earhart Field, but Atchison found that the city’s native daughter had a better form of travel in the second half and escaped with a 28-14 victory.

Atchison (7-3) couldn’t get much going in the first half, but 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter spelled doom for the Chieftains, who ended the season 5-5.

“I don’t think there were any downfalls at all,” THS coach Mark Elston said. “I think we played fine. Our guys played with their hearts and gave everything.”

The Chieftains scored first on quarterback Justin Walker’s 18-yard touchdown run.

Atchison opened the third quarter with a pass play. Tonganoxie senior Kyle Mayse had Atchison receiver Jeff Boldridge covered, but slipped on the muddy turf. Boldridge stayed on his feet and took the pass 40 yards to set up his 10-yard run that tied the game at 6-all.

Atchison then took charge in the fourth quarter.

A 34-yard pass from senior quarterback Shea Sowers to senior tight end Shayne Tyler set up one score, and Sowers eventually found Tyler again for a three-yard touchdown and a 20-14 lead.

After fumbling three times but recovering, Tonganoxie finally coughed up a crucial turnover, and Atchison sealed the win on a Boldridge three-yard run with 1:47 left.

“The guys played their guts out,” Elston said of his team, which was without Andrew Miller for much of the game and Matt Weyer late. “You can’t ask for more than that.”

Atchison 28, Tonganoxie 14

Tonganoxie 6 0 8 0 14

Atchison 0 0 7 21 28

T Walker 18 run (Kirk Rodell kick failed)

A Boldridge 10 run (Jake Weishaar kick)

T Baska 17 run (Baska run)

A Boldridge 3 run (Weishaar kick)

A Shayne Tyler 3 pass from Shea Sowers (kick failed)

A Boldridge 3 run (Matt Buckley pass from Sowers)