When preparing for a Class 6A quarterfinal playoff game, coaches typically donâÂÂt worry about what happened earlier in the season.

That includes Lawrence High coach Dirk Wedd.

The Lions trounced Olathe East 26-7 on Sept. 20, the third game of the season.

When LHS travels to the Olathe District Activity Center for todayâÂÂs 7 p.m. rematch with O-East, Wedd will have his team ready, previous outcome be darned.

The game will be aired on tape delay at 10:30 p.m. tonight and 11 a.m. Saturday on Sunflower Broadband Channel Six.

âÂÂIt going to be a dogfight,â Wedd said. âÂÂAnybody youâÂÂre going to play this late in the season is going to be a quality football team.âÂÂ

For the Lions (8-2) to advance to next weekâÂÂs semifinal against Olathe North Ãi¿½” which beat Shawnee Mission East 42-14 on Thursday Ãi¿½” theyâÂÂll have to duplicate that last game against Olathe East.

LHS held the Hawks to 27 rushing yards on 27 carries and 149 yards of total offense. Quarterback Derek Diehl was sacked four times, and Hawks rushers were held to no gain or losses of yards six times.

Just as importantly, it was LawrenceâÂÂs first win against an Olathe school since 1997 Ãi¿½” a span of 11 games.

âÂÂYou always want to get that monkey off your back,â Wedd said. âÂÂThat was a big step for us.âÂÂ

The Hawks (7-3) advanced to tonightâÂÂs game because of a sturdy defense and a bit of luck. They beat Shawnee Mission Northwest 11-7 last Friday, after getting a go-ahead touchdown in with 1:06 remaining in the fourth quarter when Northwest snapped the ball over the punterâÂÂs head, and the Hawks recovered in the end zone.

It was their fifth win in the last six games, but Hawks coach Jeff Meyers thinks his squad can do even better.

âÂÂI wouldnâÂÂt say our best football, but weâÂÂre playing well enough to win,â Meyers said.

With only 103 total yards against SM Northwest, the Hawks have been relying on a stout defense to compensate for a struggling offense. Their defense ranked second overall in the Sunflower League, while the run defense allows just 100 yards a game.

âÂÂI would say that if we had a team strength, it would be our defense,â Meyers said. âÂÂAnd our run defense is probably as strong as itâÂÂs been the past two years.âÂÂ

The Lions had 282 rushing yards in that Week Three win, but also had 91 passing yards in one of their most balanced offensive performances this year. Quarterback Tommy Mangino was 9-of-17 passing, hitting receivers on rollouts and crossing patterns.

If the Hawks stack up defenders along the line of scrimmage, donâÂÂt be surprised if Mangino throws 15 or 20 times.

âÂÂThe neat thing is that weâÂÂre to the point where we can throw it if we have to,â Wedd said. âÂÂI really like where our passing game is. With (Josh) Lawrence and (Drew) Cummings and (Ryan) Engel and (Brandon) Womack, theyâÂÂve all proven that they can catch the football.âÂÂ

Still, the running game will be the Lionsâ main option.

Seniors Brandon McAnderson and Chris Fulton each have rushed for more than 1,000 yards this season, and theyâÂÂll be featured prominently tonight. And with the return of senior guard Twynnin Brown, the LHS offensive line just got that much bigger.

Averaging 236 pounds between the tackles, senior Bobby Brubaker (6-foot, 250 pounds) moves to tight end along with junior Josh Lawrence (6-2, 195).

âÂÂNot every team can have a 250-pound tight end that can bench the weight room,â Wedd said.

ItâÂÂs that size and strength that concerns Meyers most.

âÂÂThereâÂÂs two teams that weâÂÂve played this year that have been more physical that us,â Meyers said. âÂÂAnd one of those teams was Lawrence.âÂÂ

The Hawks have reasons to be concerned. The have two players out with knee surgeries, another playing with anterior cruciate ligament damage, two with broken hands, one with bruised ribs and two more with mono. Considering that Lawrence Ãi¿½” which also returns cornerbacks Taylor Parker and Brett Urban after missing two games with injuries Ãi¿½” is fairly healthy, it could be a repeat of Week Three, and another step toward the state championship.

âÂÂThese are all the steps you have to take,â Wedd said. âÂÂThe next step is to show people we can get to the sub-state.âÂÂ