Olathe North's Darren Sproles has needed just four games to rush for 1,096 yards.
Lawrence High and Olathe North football have been a part of the 1990s like the Internet, cellular phones and hip-hop.
For the decade, LHS has won 85 games overall and five state championships ('90-'93, '95). Meanwhile, Olathe North has 84 victories and three state titles ('96-'98).
O-North (3-1 overall, 3-0 Sunflower League) and LHS (1-3, 1-2) will meet tonight for the 20th time in the series and final time this decade. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Olathe District Activities Center.
"I told our kids that in the 1990s probably the most memorable games have been Lawrence High and Olathe North," Olathe North coach Gene Wier said. "The games are played with a lot of emotion and we have to rise to the challenge. There have certainly been memorable experiences."
Only Derby, the 1994 state champion, has disrupted the LHS-Olathe North grasp of the Class 6A state crown this decade. Coincidentally, Derby (85-14, 85.9 percent), O-North (84-15, 84.8) and Lawrence (85-20, 80.9) are the winningest 6A teams this decade.
The Eagles, No. 1 in Class 6A, have dominated the second half of the '90s. Since 1995, Olathe North is 47-4. Two of those losses were to Rockhurst, including a 28-14 setback to the Hawklets last week. The other two were to LHS in the 1995 state semifinals and to Free State in the '98 season opener.
"They kind of remind me of some of the Lawrence High teams in the past," LHS coach Dirk Wedd said of the current Eagles. "They're so physical. They can hurt you with the run or pass."
The Lions have lost three in a row since opening with a victory over Shawnee Mission North. On the heels of a 48-36 loss to Shawnee Mission West, LHS sputtered in a 10-6 loss to SM South last week
"I think they're a good team," said Wier, who scouted the SM South-LHS game. "I don't think they had a good night against South. They play real well defensively. I thought they played well offensively against SM West."
Junior Darren Sproles, a 5-foot-5, 160-pound junior, is the latest in a long line of talented O-North running backs, joining the ranks of Arland Bruce, Eniak Mpwo and Beno Gore.
"We've been lucky that way," Wier said. "He's certainly right in there with that mix."
Sproles has already rushed for 1,000 yards -- 1,096 to be precise -- and 12 touchdowns. He opened the season with a 318-yard effort against Free State and followed that with games of 299, 311 and 168. He accounts for 82 percent of the Eagles' rushing yardage.
"On film, he's as good a back as I've seen the past few years," Wedd said. "You add the strength, quickness and the elusiveness, you have the full package."
Wedd has been pleased with the Lions' preparation this week.
"There's been a lot of enthusiasm at practice," Wedd said.
O-North will be without junior fullback Jim Bergant tonight. Bergant sustained a concussion against Rockhurst.
Since the series began in 1983, LHS holds a 12-7 advantage over O-North. The Eagles, though, have won six of the past seven meetings and the Lions haven't beaten O-North in regular season since 1993. The Eagles haven't lost back-to-back games since '93.
- For a halftime, update and the final score, call Access at 865-5000, category 6000.
-- Steve Rottinghaus' phone message number is 832-7152. His e-mail address is srottinghaus@ljworld.com
No comments
Commenting is turned off for this story.