ATCHISON ? Now that the do-or-die implications of the Class 4A state playoffs are here, Tonganoxie High football coach Mark Elston has one piece of advice for his team.

Relax.

The last two weeks no doubt have been stressful for the Chieftains, who play at 7 tonight at Atchison.

After losing to Kansas City Piper, 17-14, to open district Oct. 17, Tonganoxie faced two must-win games to get in the playoffs.

The first, a 17-14 victory over Basehor-Linwood, was a nerve-racking, high-strung victory. The second, a 41-0 victory over Lansing, wasn’t so bad.

Now, Elston is giving his team permission go in with the nothing-to-lose attitude.

“It’s going to help out a bunch that we’re able to relax now,” Elston said. “There’s not as much pressure. Now it’s go out and do your best and see what happens.”

Tonganoxie (8-1) continues to go down the same postseason path as a year ago, when the Chieftains lost their district opener to K.C. Piper before winning their next two games.

And once again, the opening game is a road trip to Atchison. Last year, Atchison (7-2) stormed back from a fourth-quarter deficit to eliminate the Chieftains, 28-14.

“They put it to us in the fourth quarter,” Elston recalled. “It was a good ballgame and a good experience. We were just 5-4 and didn’t quite have the talent that we’ve got this year.”

The winner tonight will face the winner of the Topeka Hayden-K.C. Ward showdown Saturday.