A 10-6 loss to Shawnee Mission South on Thursday -- Lawrence High's third consecutive football setback -- has the Lions searching for answers midway through the season.
What did LHS learn from the four-point loss to the Raiders?
"When we don't play hard, we're a below average team," said LHS coach Dirk Wedd, whose Lions are 1-3 with five games left. "We have to be ready to play if we're going to be successful."
SM South, the top-ranked defense in the Sunflower League, limited the Lions to a season-low 174 yards total offense. LHS entered the contest averaging 312 yards a game.
Jason Fender's one-yard touchdown run with 8:54 left in the fourth quarter accounted for the Lions' lone score.
SM South's lone TD came on Adam Stephens' 49-yard burst on a draw play with 4:21 left in the first half. The Raiders were facing third and 32 when Stephens broke loose. Kyle Vohland kicked a 28-yard field goal to give the Raiders a 10-0 lead midway through the third quarter.
"Defensively we played well enough, but if we don't give up the draw we win 6-3," Wedd said. "With the draw, all they were trying to do was get a few yards back so they can punt it."
Offensively in the first half, the Lions generated a mere 67 yards offense. Their possessions in the half ended punt, interception, punt, punt, turnover on downs, a low snap on a punt resulting in a fumble and a fumble on fourth down.
An offensive highlight for the Lions was junior Damon Benitez's two receptions for 60 yards. Benitez didn't have a reception in Lawrence's first three games.
Regarding injuries, senior offensive lineman/defensive end Tom Murray, a two-way starter, "banged up" a knee against SM South and is listed day-to-day, Wedd said. Sophomore free safety Rob Scott, who didn't suit up for the Raiders' game because of a stinger in his shoulder, has been cleared for non-contact drills this week.
Now the Lions must brace for Olathe North, the No. 1 team in Class 6A and the three-time defending state champion. Kickoff is 7 p.m. Thursday at Olathe District Activities Center.
"With where we're at right now, we can't be concerned with Olathe North," Wedd said. We've got to be concerned with having three good days of practice and walking out a better football team than we walked in."
-- Steve Rottinghaus' phone message number is 832-7152. His e-mail address is srottinghaus@ljworld.com
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