When the Lawrence High football team wrapped up its District title, it wasn’t last Friday during its 42-26 win against Free State.

It came the next day when Topeka Washburn Rural beat Topeka High 26-12. So the Lions’ home game this Friday against the Trojans serves as a preparatory game for the playoffs, while the Firebirds come into Friday’s matchup against the Junior Blues with one mindset.

The playoffs start a week early.

“Our kids are very focused on the fact that this is really a playoff game, not a district game,” FSHS coach Bob Lisher said.

That approach can’t hurt. Friday’s winner advances to the playoffs.

Simple as that. No tie-breakers needed, no funky rules. The winner goes.

When the Kansas State High School Activities Association expanded the Class 6A and 5A playoffs to include another team from each district doubling the playoffs from eight teams to 16 teams and extending the season by one week it didn’t lessen the importance of the Lions’ win on Friday.

It just gave the Firebirds (6-2, 1-1) another chance to make the playoffs.

“We’ve been a pretty good team all year,” Lisher said. “We’ve been ranked most of the season. Now we’re fighting for the playoffs.”

It also lets the Lions (6-2, 2-0) breathe a little easier this week, though they won’t approach it that way.

“I think the most important thing for us right now is to go out against Topeka High and keep improving,” LHS coach Dirk Wedd said. “It’s not the time of year to stop and pat yourself on the back.”

With two running backs gaining 1,000 yards and an offense that leads the Sunflower League in total yards and is second in scoring, it’s tough not to.

Senior Chris Fulton’s 232-yard night gave him 1,048 this season, joining senior Brandon McAnderson as the only LHS backfield to have both backs break 1,000 yards. Fulton’s speed and McAnderson’s strength have been huge weapons for the Lions.

As they hit the playoffs, expect more of the same.

“They’re a handful because they’re so different in the way that they run the football,” Wedd said. “As we go in, and hopefully get deeper in the playoffs, we’ll need them more and more.”

LHS kicker Derek Frink has been automatic lately. Frink, a senior, struggled with extra points early in the season, but has connected on 14 of 15 tries in the last three games, including six of six in the mud last Friday. His secret? Move out of the mud, to the right hashmark.

“We tried to pick out a spot that had good footing,” Wedd said. “As long as he felt comfortable with his plant foot, I didn’t care where he kicked from.”

It’ll be tough for Lisher to hold senior David Allen out Friday. Allen, who suffered a slight lateral collateral ligament strain in his left knee during the second quarter last Friday, is the type that doesn’t like to miss a play, let along a game.

“David is just an all-around hard nosed player,” Lisher said. “We’d have to chain him to the pole. That’s be the only way to keep him out of the game.”