Olathe ? All week, the Lawrence High football team was ready to play a day early and get the bitter memories of last week’s loss out of its system.

But Thursday’s showdown with Olathe East culminated with a late Lion lead and a late Lion loss, 23-15, at the Olathe District Activities Center. It’s the second straight loss for LHS; the Lions lost to Shawnee Mission North, 21-19, Friday on a late touchdown.

This time, there were two late Olathe East touchdowns — a seven-yard reception by Anthony Parks with 2:34 left and a 51-yard run by Andre Jones with 50 seconds to play.

“We’re a very good team,” LHS senior Jack Bell said. “We should’ve beat them. We just couldn’t finish.”

The Lions (1-2) could take pride from scaring two of the state’s most feared teams the past two weeks.

But they’re not.

“Lawrence High has never been about moral victories,” coach Dirk Wedd said. “If moral victories were important, there wouldn’t be a scoreboard at the end of the field.”

Though obviously outplayed in the first half, the Lions escaped with a 7-6 halftime lead. Olathe East (3-0) marched downfield seemingly at will, but once it came within striking distance of the end zone the LHS defense wouldn’t budge.

Lawrence High's Ian Handshy (38) runs through Olathe East's Jeff Westerhaus (30) and Anthony Parks. The Hawks beat the Lions, 23-15, Thursday in Olathe.

The Hawks attempted four field goals, missing two, and garnered just six points from four serious scoring threats.

“We were so inept offensively, and our defense really kept us in it,” Wedd said. “We were lucky to be in the game at halftime.”

LHS needed one big play for a much-needed offensive spark, and it happened with less than a minute remaining in the half. Senior John Davis, on his first carry of the night, broke several tackles and rumbled 82 yards only to get tripped three yards short of the end zone. Junior Jeff Colter finished the drive two plays later with a one-yard run just five seconds before halftime.

The Hawks added another field goal — really, all they could do most of the game — in the third quarter, but a five-yard run by Colter, coupled with a two-point conversion run by Taylor Parker, gave Lawrence a 15-9 lead with 9:04 left in the game.

Coincidence or not, Lawrence’s late lead once again proved to be a problem. The Lions fumbled deep in their own territory with three minutes to play, setting up O-East’s first taste of the end zone on a jump-ball that Anthony Parks snared. The extra point gave the Hawks a 16-15 lead.

¢ 6Sports video: Lions lose in football heartbreaker

LHS had one last chance on their ensuing drive, but it was lost when the ball was once again fumbled away with 1:08 to play.

“It’s concentration,” Wedd said. “They need to understand the importance of possessing the football.”

The Lions will return to Haskell Stadium next week to play Olathe South. Until then, the bad feeling will linger for a little while longer.

“There are lessons to be learned,” Wedd said. “And they’re hard lessons to learn, because they’re costing us games.”

LHS coach Dirk Wedd watches the Lions' hopes fizzle after a fumble on their last drive.