Lawrence High’s football team doesn’t have much size or much depth, yet the Lions have lost only twice this season by a combined 10 points.

Obviously, the Lions have something going for them.

“They don’t look real big,” Washburn Rural coach Aaron Barnett said, “but they’re real fast.”

Barnett and the Junior Blues hope to slow the speedy Lions in the Class 6A, District 4 opener for both teams tonight at Haskell Stadium. Kickoff will be 7:30 p.m. It’s the last official home game for the Lions.

With eight players going both ways and few beefy linemen, the Lions have compiled a 4-2 record mostly by utilizing a deceptive offense and relying on a pesky defense.

Lawrence High, for example, is one of only two Sunflower League teams allowing opponents fewer than 100 rushing yards per game. Linebackers Carl Lisher and John Davis have been the ringleaders.

“They’ve been outstanding,” LHS coach Dirk Wedd said, “but the secondary has played well, too. Our defense isn’t very big, but they fly around the field and will hit you.”

The Lions’ defense is also opportunistic. Defensive backs Jeff Colter and Jamie Huston have four interceptions apiece.

Colter, a junior, is one of the eight Lions who go both ways. The other seven are seniors and will be playing their last game in Haskell Stadium tonight. Lisher and Davis are in that group, as are Josh Lawrence, Brad Harrell, Nathan Lindsey, Drew Cummings and Brett Urban.

On offense, quarterback Taylor Parker, also a senior, orchestrates a run-oriented offense that features misdirection, exaggerated fakes and, some would say, smoke and mirrors.

“They want you to take one first step,” said Barnett, now in his second year at Rural after rebuilding Eudora’s program, “and if you don’t maintain your discipline and do what you’re supposed to do, their backs will be by you.”

Colter, Davis, Parker and Urban are all threats to carry the ball, but Wedd isn’t shy about subbing with Ian Handshy or Jabril Richardson, or even throwing an occasional pass.

Still, the Lions have completed only 13 passes all season and that’s two fewer than Washburn Rural’s Jake Bervert, the leading receiver among the five Topeka schools.

Rural is muddling along with a 3-3 record, but hopes to make noise in its three district games and earn a playoff berth. Losses have been to Capital City powers Hayden and Seaman, and to Emporia.

“Our kids work their tails off,” Barnett said. “If you watched us in practice, you’d think we were undefeated.”

Lawrence’s losses have been to unbeaten Olathe East (23-15) and to twice-beaten Shawnee Mission North (21-19).

Next week the Lions will clash with intracity rival Free State at Memorial Stadium, but Wedd isn’t concerned his players could be caught looking ahead.

“This group is pretty focused,” Wedd said. “They know the second season starts with Washburn Rural, and that they have to take care of that first.”

The Lions’ regular season and district finale will be Halloween night against Topeka High. Some schedules list that game as being in Lawrence, but it will be at Topeka’s new Hummer Sports Park.