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Tonganoxie — Bonner Springs football coach Lew Kasselman has been demanding that his players step up and make plays consistently this season.

That didn’t happen during the first four games, and all were losses.

Friday night at Tonganoxie, however, the Braves made big play after big play. They forced five turnovers and took advantage of opportunities on offense in a 41-28 victory.

“I think we tried to do things the right way, and I think our kids put a little more effort into the things we’ve been asking them to do to make plays,” Kasselman said. “We made some plays that we hadn’t made (previously), so I think that makes a big difference.”

Three of Tonganoxie’s turnovers came in the second quarter, and each one set up a BSHS score.

Bonner Springs scored first when quarterback Jourdaine Smallwood connected with receiver Steve Williams for a 73-yard touchdown. Derek Rodgers’ extra point made it 7-0.

Tonganoxie countered with back-to-back scores. The first came on a 5-yard run by Ian McClellan. The second was a 1-yard run by Brady Waldeier, and the Chieftains led 14-7 early in the second quarter.

From there, the Chieftans handed Bonner Springs opportunity after opportunity to score, and the Braves took full advantage.

A fumble recovery by lineman Jared Clements on the THS 3-yard line with 6:20 remaining in the half made it easy for the Braves to tie the game. J.J. Jackson’s 3-yard TD run evened the score at 14-14.

Less than a minute later, defensive back Jonathan Blackwell picked off a Brady Waldeier pass and returned it to the Chieftains’ 9-yard line. On second-and-goal, Jackson darted into the end zone with a 2-yard run and gave the Braves the lead.

On its next possession, Tonganoxie botched a handoff exchange. Brian Callahan pounced on it and gave Bonner Springs the ball back for yet another short field situation.

“Those turnovers get us in field position, and that’s what we needed to have,” Kasselman said.

Five plays and 41 yards later, the Braves were back in the end zone. The drive was capped by a 27-yard touchdown pass from Smallwood to Williams.

Bonner Springs led 28-14 at halftime.

A couple big plays from Tonganoxie’s Shawn Marin nearly swung momentum back to the Chieftains in the third quarter. First, Martin intercepted a pass with 9:41 to go. Then, after first-down pickups on carries by he and Waldeier, Marin ran for a 9-yard score that cut the BSHS lead to 28-21 with 6:30 to go in the quarter.

The THS defense followed that seven-play, 61-yard drive by the offense with a three-and-out.

As the Chieftains’ offense came back out and tried to drive for the game-tying score, back-to-back penalties on third down were followed by another fumble. Callahan recovered the ball for the Braves. Three plays later, Jackson rushed for his third touchdown of the night and extended the lead to 35-21.

Joe Hilario added a touchdown on a 15-yard run in the fourth quarter for BSHS, and Tonganoxie received a TD on a 1-yard run by Garret Elston to round out the scoring.

McClellan led THS with 129 yards rushing, and Waldeier ran for 76 yards as the Chieftains dropped to 1-4 overall and 1-4 in the Kaw Valley League.

Jackson led the BSHS offense with 109 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries.

Smallwood had a breakout game as he threw for 215 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on 10 of 17 passing. Four of those balls were caught by Williams for 137 yards and two scores.

“If you give (Smallwood) a little bit of time, he can find them,” Kasselman said. “We’ve got some playmakers, and they finally got a chance to show what they can do.”

The Braves (1-4) will try to double their wins total at 7 p.m. Friday at David Jaynes Stadium when they play host to winless Bishop Ward on homecoming.

— Chris Wristen contributed to this report.

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