While Shawnee Mission West was busting big plays for touchdowns Friday night at Haskell Stadium, Lawrence High kept grinding it out in a 48-36 loss to the Vikings.
The Lions (1-2 overall, 1-1 Sunflower League) ran 82 plays, had 28 first downs and gained 431 yards offense compared to Shawnee Mission West's 41 plays, 12 first downs and 421 yards.
"As unique as controlling the ball the whole quarter against Olathe North (last year), Lawrence High has never had more than 75 snaps that I can remember," LHS coach Dirk Wedd said.
LHS had two 15-play scoring drives and a 13-play drive during its 36-point outburst, the most points for the Lions since a 41-0 victory over Leavenworth in the 1997 finale.
West (3-0, 3-0) countered Lawrence's methodical drives with a bevy of big plays -- an 81-yard punt return for a touchdown, Andy Majors' four TD passes totaling 192 yards and James Churchill's 41-yard touchdown run.
"We gave up too many big plays," Wedd said. "Some of it was them being better athletes."
SM West senior Paul Vassor accounted for three Viking scores -- the long punt return and two TD receptions.
"He outran them (the secondary)," Wedd said. "There's only so much you can do. The kids played hard and we're going to do a better job coaching. We'll get this straightened out."
West's 48 points were the most scored against the Lions since the Vikings erupted for 49 in '97. HenrÃ- Childs, now a sophomore on Kansas University's football team, did most of the damage then.
Through three games, the Lions are averaging 312 yards a game. LHS senior quarterback Bryce McMichael threw for a career-high 149 yards against the Vikings.
Defensively, LHS surrenders 336.7 yards a game, including a Sunflower League-worst 214.3 passing yards per game.
Senior Donovan Romero, who didn't go out for football his junior year, and first-time football player Blake Allen contributed to the Lions' offensive attack against West. Romero had 81 yards rushing and 81 yards receiving. Allen had three catches for 32 yards -- including a touchdown reception -- and was 4-for-4 on PATs.
"We're finding kids that have a little athletic ability, slowly but surely," Wedd said. "Some of it is opening doors and telling them there's an opportunity to play. We're going to get better athletes all the time. Maybe there is two or three more sitting out there."
Senior running back Kingsley Uwadia, who missed two-a-day practices, made his varsity debut against SM West. He had nine yards on two carries.
"He's catching up and hopefully he'll start contributing," Wedd said.
Next for LHS is SM South (1-2) on Thursday. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at South.
Injury update: Junior Devon McAnderson, the Lions' backup quarterback, is sidelined for six weeks because of a chipped bone on his hip. He sustained the injury on Thursday while running 40-yard dashes in his physical education class. Sophomore Rob Scott, a starting defensive back, is now Lawrence's No. 2 QB. ... Senior running back-defensive back-punter-kickoff and punt returner Jason Fender, who sat the fourth quarter after sustaining a slight concussion late in the third period against West, should be ready for Thursday, Wedd said. ... Senior lineman Sean Burkhart also should be available Thursday after missing Friday's game with an ankle sprain.
-- Steve Rottinghaus' phone message number is 832-7152. His e-mail address is srottinghaus@ljworld.com
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