Tonganoxie ? In most high school football games, the winner usually is the team that either is best at rushing or stopping the run.

When Tonganoxie (3-0) squares off tonight against Mill Valley (2-1), the game won’t be that simple.

Tongie has survived two close contests thanks to a salty run defense, and Mill Valley’s two wins have been lopsided because of the Jaguars stellar ground game.

“That’s the matchup right there,” said Chieftains coach Mark Elston, whose squad scored 13 unanswered points in the final five minutes to defeat Mill Valley, 20-10, last season.

This year’s matchup could be equally intriguing.

The Chieftains’ defense has allowed minus-2 yards rushing in three games, but Elston said Tongie hadn’t faced as talented a running team as Mill Valley.

“They know what to do on offense, and that’s mainly move the ball on the ground,” he said. “We have to guard against the big play.”

Which means slowing Mill Valley’s Woods brothers.

David and Justin Woods have combined for more than 500 yards and 10 touchdowns, but Elston said the duo’s differences were what made them so difficult to contain.

“David Woods is a little stockier and a more sturdy inside runner, but he can run you over or get to the outside,” Elston said of the senior Woods, who has rushed for 309 yards on 42 carries and scored five touchdowns.

“The younger one appears to be more of a burner from the film we’ve seen,” Elston said of Justin, a sophomore who has rushed for 240 yards on 26 carries and five touchdowns. “If he gets around the corner, the only thing you see is the back of his jersey and then the extra point.”

Mill Valley coach George Radell agreed with Elston’s take on his two runners, saying it was a nice luxury to have two explosive backs of their caliber in the same backfield.

“I think David and Justin complement each other very well,” he said. “David’s a strong runner between the tackles, and Justin has good speed on the perimeter.”

Elston said Tongie, which has 11 new starters on offense this season, would have to control the clock and sustain drives on offense.

“I think our defense stats are a little skewed because all the teams we’ve played have thrown the ball 20-25 times a game, allowing us to get a few sacks,” Elston said. “Mill Valley will not throw that much, we’re going to have to stop them.

“Every time we’ve played them it’s been an exciting game that’s gone nearly the distance. I definitely don’t expect this one to be any different.”