For years, the Lawrence High-Olathe North football game was circled on calendars as the game of the year.

When the Lions were winning nine state titles in a 12-year span, the Eagles were on the cusp of doing the same. By winning five of the last six titles, they’ve become the team to beat, while LHS has struggled.

Circle that game again.

When Olathe North rolls into Haskell Stadium tonight for a 7:30 p.m. showdown with Lawrence, expect some of the biggest hits, largest players and best all-out running backs around.

“We’re going up against our mirror image,” LHS senior Brandon McAnderson said. “They’ve got big linemen, they’ve got big running backs. It’s something we haven’t experienced yet.”

Indeed, the Lions (3-1) have played Olathe East and Olathe South in consecutive weeks, but have yet to face a team with as many physically imposing players as the Eagles. Few teams do.

Yet, even though North is 4-0, it’s had too many turnovers, which have led to a couple of close games. The Eagles escaped with a 24-14 season-opening victory against Shawnee Mission North, and a 35-28 overtime victory last Friday against Shawnee Mission South.

“We’ve struggled a lot,” Eagles coach Gene Weir said. “For us to have a chance, we’ve got to eliminate those mistakes.”

Plus, Weir’s concerned about the Lions’ ability to run the ball.

“We don’t have the size they do on the line, nor do we have the size of their backs,” he said.

Not that LHS coach Dirk Wedd buys any of that.”Anytime you compete against a team that can just punch you in the mouth you worry about them. They really play smashmouth football,” Wedd said. “But they have so many other weapons, too.

North running back Jim Bouknight leads the Sunflower League in rushing with 953 yards in four games. The offensive line matches Lawrence’s as one of the biggest around, averaging about 235 pounds per player, clearing the way for 349 rushing yards a game, right behind Lawrence’s 356 yards a game.

“They’ve always had big kids,” Wedd said. “Even back when we were winning state championships, they had guys that were as big as ours. It’s been a while since we’ve been able to physically match up with them.”

In fact, the Lions haven’t beaten Olathe North in the regular season since a 28-14 win in 1993. Even when LHS won its last state title in 1995, they split the season series with the Eagles, losing in the second week of the season, but claiming a 32-7 win in the state semifinals at Haskell.

For the Lions to snap that streak, they’ll have to be able to establish their running game featuring seniors Brandon McAnderson and Chris Fulton, Nos. 2 and 3 behind Bouknight in the league for rushing against the best defense in the league. North allows 197 yards a game and only 66 rushing.

Without several key players running backs/linebackers Brian Seymour and John Davis, lineman Bobby Brubaker and linebacker Will Thomas all are injured it’s an imposing task. But Wedd thinks his guys are up for it.

“Lawrence High hasn’t been in a big game for awhile,” he said. “We get an opportunity to play them at home. We’ll have to be ready.”