When Lawrence High’s football team played at Haskell Stadium last week, the Lions didn’t throw a pass.

Now it might be Haskell Indian Nations University’s turn.

The Fightin’ Indians will play host to winless Southwestern Assemblies of God U. today, and SAGU has the worst rushing defense in the Central States Football League.

Kickoff will be 2 p.m. for the Indians’ homecoming game.

Haskell coach Eric Brock has the CSFL’s leading rusher in tailback Chad Murphy (79.8 yards per game), and Brock has made a move he hopes will make Murphy even more productive.

With an open date last weekend, Brock shifted center Kiah Smith, a 6-foot-0, 250-pound senior, from center to fullback. Smith weighs 70 pounds more than FB incumbent Billy Gilbert. Taking over at center will be Darwin Doney, a 6-3, 325-pound freshman, meaning Brock has added 75 pounds at that position.

“Kiah played a little fullback in the spring,” Brock said, “but he was also our best offensive lineman, so we kept him there. Now Doney has developed and we felt we could play him at center.”

On paper, the switch should make the Tribe’s running attack even more effective.

Murphy, a 5-10, 210-pound freshman from Norman, Okla., is averaging only 3.5 yards per carry, but he has scored four touchdowns and given the Indians a much-needed ball-carrying presence.

“He’s not going to race you to the corner,” Brock said. “He gets one, four and eight yards a pop. He doesn’t get anything handed to him. He’s durable, and he’s low to the ground.”

Back-up tailback Carl Huff isn’t bad, either. Huff, a 5-9, 185-pound freshman from Bethel, Okla., is averaging 4.4 yards a carry and has scored two TDs.

Haskell’s rejuvenated running game has enabled the defense to spend more time resting on the sideline, improving its effectiveness.

HINU leads the CSFL in every defensive category, and the Indians are in the same league with Northwestern Oklahoma State, the No. 9-ranked team in this week’s NAIA poll.

In this week’s NAIA statistics, Haskell is No. 6 in total defense (228.3 yards per game), No. 13 in rushing defense (85.5) and No. 20 in pass defense (142.8).

Haskell’s aerial defenders will face perhaps their toughest test today. SAGU quarterback Ryan Smith has averaged more than 36 passes in the Lions’ first three games, all losses.

“They sling it a lot,” Brock said of the Lions, who allow an average of 42.7 points a game.

Haskell (2-2) won last year’s meeting, 30-0, and is 3-1 overall against the Texas school.