Lawrence High faces another tough defense

On paper, Shawnee Mission East is a sheep. In reality, the Lancers, winners just once in five outings, are more like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

“They’ve had the lead in the fourth quarter in all the games they’ve lost,” Lawrence High football coach Dirk Wedd said.

Moreover, SM East ranks second in the Sunflower League in total defense  another fact Wedd made sure his players were aware of this week because the Lancers are the Lions’ next foe.

Kickoff will be at 7 tonight at SM North District Stadium.

“I think their record is very misleading,” Wedd said. “They could easily be 5-0 or 4-1.”

Lawrence High is coming off a humbling 20-6 home loss to Olathe North. The Eagles, the league’s top defensive team, stuffed the Lions’ potent running attack.

“Olathe North taught us a valuable lesson about toughness,” Wedd said.

Wedd won’t have to wait long to discover if it was a lesson learned because SM East ranks right behind O-North in league defensive stats.

“We scored just six points against them last year and they have their whole defense back,” Wedd said.

Tonight is the Lions’ last game before Class 6A district play begins. Lawrence High will travel to Washburn Rural next Friday, then play host to Free State and Topeka High on successive weekends.

It’s important, Wedd said, that the Lions avoid looking ahead to district competition.

“I don’t think that when you lose the week before and your record is 3-2 you can overlook anybody,” he said.

In one case, however, Wedd is looking ahead to the district. Senior running back-linebacker Brian Seymour, out the last four weeks with a knee strain, will return to limited duty tonight.

“Hopefully, Brian will be full-speed for Washburn Rural,” Wedd said.

Notes

 Bill Freeman, who coached the Lions to several state titles, spoke to the players following Tuesday’s practice. Dick Purdy, another highly successful former LHS coach, watched Wednesday’s practice. Freeman now lives in LeRoy; Purdy in Arizona.

 SM East has dropped two games by four points, one by eight points and the other by 10 points. The Lancers’ lone win was a 44-16 romp over Leavenworth. Although ranked second in rushing defense, SM East’s pass defense numbers are last in the league.

 Lawrence High’s Brandon McAnderson is second in league rushing with 783 yards. Olathe North’s Jim Bouknight leads with 1,036 yards. SM East’s Collin Cooper is third with 559 yards and the Lions’ Chris Fulton fourth with 555 yards.