Topeka ? By the time Brett Urban ripped off a 70-yard touchdown, it wasn’t even Lawrence High’s longest run from scrimmage.

It was that kind of the night for the Lions.

Urban’s score midway through the fourth quarter was just the final of several big plays in Lawrence’s 41-7 trouncing of Topeka Washburn Rural on Friday. Brandon McAnderson had a 73-yard romp just before halftime which set up the Lions’ second score, while his 80-yard scamper was the longest run of the night.

Throw in eight Junior Blues’ fumbles and a blocked field goal before halftime and this was the type of Class 6A district opener LHS was looking for.

“We expected them to be tough, and I don’t want to dog them, but we knew they played a lot of 5A schools this season,” McAnderson said. “We wanted to show them what a 6A school could do.”

Lawrence (5-2 overall, 1-0 district) did just that, racking up 444 yards rushing on 45 carries, always in control of the game. Even on its opening drive, LHS drove 80 yards on 15 plays, most of it five- or six-yard rushes.

Even when the drive stalled on the Washburn 16, the Lions were in control. They forced Washburn to punt on its first two possessions, and got their first score on Chris Fulton’s 18-yard sweep.

When Washburn pieced together a drive just before half, Brandon Womack blocked the field goal. McAnderson took off for 73 yards on the first play, and Fulton scored his second touchdown 46 seconds later.

That deflated any momentum Washburn had.

But what else was to be expected against a Lawrence High team that finally had all of its skill players?

Lawrence High's Chris Fulton, right, runs through the Topeka Washburn Rural defense. Fulton had three touchdowns in the Lions' 41-7 district-opening victory over the Junior Blues on Friday night in Topeka.

“This is the first time we’ve been healthy,” LHS coach Dirk Wedd said. “You get an opportunity to play Brandon at fullback and tailback and that creates a lot of problems for people.”

Washburn (4-3, 0-1) did have some success using its junior running back, Josh Kulick, who had 112 yards on 27 carries. In fact, the Lions’ defense on Kulick was about the only thing Wedd didn’t like.

“It wasn’t one of our better defensive performances,” he said. “Julick’s an excellent back. He runs hard and breaks tackles. We’ve got to do a better job wrapping up.”

And for this Junior Blues team, which has had five straight losing seasons and was 1-8 last season, first-year head coach Aaron Barnett has a team that could be a problem for LHS if they remain in the same district. Barnett, who coached the previous four seasons at Eudora, told his team that LHS was the better team because they were stronger and more physical the goals he’s set for his team.

Lawrence High's Josh Lawrence bobbles a pass near the end zone against Topeka Washburn Rural. The Lions pounded the Junior Blues, 41-7, Friday night in Topeka.

“I’m not going to beat them down and yell at them because we lost to a good football team,” Barnett said. “When you’ve got guys like Brandon McAnderson hitting you, it’s not like the guys we’ve had hitting us before.”

McAnderson, who had 224 yards on 19 carries and scored two touchdowns, and Fulton (120 yards on 16 carries and three touchdowns) provided the pop.

Now the Lions turn their attention to the intracity showdown with Free State next Friday. The Firebirds are 6-1 and 1-0 after a 42-7 win against Topeka High on Friday, while the Lions enter the game with their best record since Free State opened in 1997.