Lawrence High football coach Dirk Wedd has had solid football teams that made significant progress during the season.

But Wedd never has seen continual, week-to-week progress until this season’s Lions.

As Lawrence enters its homecoming game against Shawnee Mission East at 7:30 tonight at Haskell Stadium, Wedd hopes his team doesn’t digress.

“We’ve been a football team that has improved every week,” Wedd said. “I don’t think there are many teams that can honestly say that. But homecoming distractions are my biggest fear right now.”

Wedd said if the Lions (3-2) overlooked SM East, the 1-4 Lancers could “ruin their dance.”

“I’m hoping the seniors step up and take some responsibility,” Wedd said. “We remind them of the importance of not overlooking anyone, but they have got to be mature enough to handle it, and make sure their homecoming dance is a happy one.”

The Lancers are similar to the Lions on paper, but one stat stands out — SM East receiver Mike Duvall has caught 14 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown, while Lawrence’s entire team has completed only 11 passes for 148 yards.

And the thing is, the Lancers, like the Lions, are a run-oriented team.

SM East, which averages 177 rushing yards per game, is third in the Sunflower League in rushing yards allowed with 124.80. Lancers senior Kyle Rensenhouse leads SM East’s rushing attack with 626 yards and seven touchdowns.

¢ 6Sports video: Lawrence High homecoming game may be rough

Yet the Lions lead the league with 276 rushing yards per game, and are second on defense with 88.20 yards allowed — setting up a smash-mouth showdown.

“They definitely like to run the ball, and they’re also very good against the run,” Wedd said.

“We’re going to try to do what we’ve been doing to move the football, and hopefully we’ll find the answer in stopping them.”

That could happen, especially since the Lions are riding an emotional 21-16 victory last week over three-time defending Class 6A champ Olathe North that snapped the Lions’ eight-game losing streak to the Eagles.

“You want to go into district on a high,” Wedd said. “We feel pretty good, we’re improving every week.

“Against Leavenworth, we were a better team,” Wedd said. “Shawnee Mission North taught us a lot of lessons about finishing a game. Olathe East taught us to be physical. Against Olathe South, we really put it together in all phases of the game, offense, defense and special teams. Against Olathe North, we showed that we can play.

“We’re building each week to be a better football team, and hopefully that will continue today.”