The Lawrence High football team showed up to Kansas University’s Memorial Stadium Friday with an undeniable swagger to its step. And when the final whistle blew, LHS backers had good reason to be as proud as … well, Chesty Lions.

Lawrence can claim bragging rights for at least one more year after beating Free State High, 21-6, and instilling a sense of pride into all who live south of 15th Street.

The second straight victory for the Lions in the intracity showdown improved their season record to 6-2, including 2-0 in Class 6A, District 4 play.

Free State dropped to 4-4 and 1-1.

“Free State’s a good football team,” LHS quarterback Taylor Parker said. “But we came to play. That was a great game.”

The Lions won by executing what has worked for them all year long — a smashmouth running game and a stout defense that handcuffed the Firebirds’ big playmakers.

But instead of spreading carries equally, like normal, LHS let Jeff Colter’s elusive footwork do most of the damage. Colter, a junior, rushed for 131 yards on 22 carries, including two touchdowns.

On defense, Colter — with help from the LHS secondary — battered, bruised and contained Free State wide receiver Dain Dillingham, one of the state’s top talents. Dillingham, who going in averaged nearly 20 yards per catch, had just 63 yards receiving on seven catches against LHS.

“Jeffrey hooked it up tonight,” LHS coach Dirk Wedd said. “He played great against a great receiver.”

Surrounded by his team, Lawrence High football coach Dirk Wedd celebrates the Lions' 21-6 victory over Free State High. LHS won the city showdown Friday at Kansas University's Memorial Stadium.

Free State took too long to get its prime-time offense on track. The Firebirds missed a 23-yard field goal in the first half, but otherwise had no legitimate opportunities to score until quarterback Caleb Harvey sneaked into the end zone on a one-yard run with 6:50 to play.

The Firebirds couldn’t use senior Will Malcolm at tailback because of injury, and his absence was evident.

“I’m disappointed in the outcome, but not disappointed in our effort,” FSHS coach Bob Lisher said. “We were without a couple of our weapons, but we had some kids step up and do the best they could. That’s all you can ask.”

Lawrence’s run-happy offense was no surprise to any of the 7,500 or so who attended the game, yet Free State had plenty of trouble stopping it. On their opening drive, the Lions marched 65 yards on 11 plays — all on the ground. All 11 were for positive yardage, and were capped by a five-yard TD scamper by Parker.

It was all Lawrence would need, and, for the rest of the half, all either team would get. Wedd said his team had to scrap its original gameplan, but with so many weapons ready to strike in the backfield, it hardly mattered.

The Lions racked up 243 rushing yards and got 40 more from passing, all on one play — a Parker completion to tight end Josh Lawrence, one that set up a short touchdown by Colter with 8:57 left in the third quarter.

¢ 6Sports video: Lawrence High football wins city showdown

Colter added a three-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, and his 22 carries were by far more than any member of Lawrence’s running-back committee. Parker had 16 carries for 47 yards, and senior John Davis and his five carries were next-highest.

“You go in with one gameplan, and they take something away, and you go with the next,” Wedd said. “Jeffery ran the ball really well, and those kids played so well up front.”

After the Firebirds cut the deficit to 21-6 midway through the fourth, they took almost exclusively to the air in a last-ditch effort.

But Lawrence’s secondary offered little mercy, and a Nolan Kellerman interception with 3:32 left, as well as three straight Harvey incompletions with under two minutes to play, assured the city that bragging rights would stay on the south side.

Free State High's Mark Case, left, brings down Lawrence High quarterback Taylor Parker. The Lions beat the Firebirds, 21-6, Friday at Memorial Stadium.

Regardless, Free State can still secure a spot in the Class 6A state playoffs with a victory Friday over Washburn Rural.

The Lions, meanwhile, have clinched a spot in the state playoffs. A victory next week against 0-8 Topeka High would give LHS a critical edge — a first-round home game at Haskell Stadium.

It made the big-time victory over Free State even more important, if that’s possible.

“Home-field advantage is a big deal,” Wedd said. “That first round is always tough.

“This is just a game you want to win, period. The seniors don’t want to live the rest of their life thinking about ‘ifs’ and ‘would bes.'”

Lawrence High’s senior class won’t. Instead, they’ll strut as proud as a Chesty Lion can.