Lawrence High football coach Dirk Wedd dreams of mansions.

Not the type most people fantasize about, but a dwelling of teamwork, touchdowns and stifling defense — the type that wins football games and, hopefully, a Class 6A state-championship plaque.

The first phase starts tonight when the Lions travel to Leavenworth for a 7 p.m. game at Abeles Field. The game will be broadcast on KLWN-AM 1320.

“That first month, you’re doing a lot of groundwork,” Wedd said. “Right now, we’re trying to build a foundation that will withstand the test of a really tough schedule.”

Lawrence High has stable parts, if nothing else. The Lions return a good deal of talent, including senior running backs Jeff Colter and Ian Handshy and senior lineman Aaron Kie.

“You’ve got two backs that averaged eight yards per carry,” Wedd said, “and you’ve got an offensive lineman that really improved through the course of the year and knows what it is to play in the Sunflower League.”

The rest of the players have Wedd intrigued, yet leery. Juniors Scott Penny and Nolan Kellerman played regularly last year, but LHS will take many players to the field that simply don’t have enough varsity snaps to be comfortable right away — including junior quarterback Brian Heere.

For tonight’s game, and possibly the next two weeks — home contests with Olathe North and Shawnee Mission North — Wedd is placing a lot of responsibility on his returning talent.

“(In the) early going, those are pretty good guys to hang your hat on,” Wedd said, “because you know what you’ve got in them.”

The Lions’ opponent is another story. Leavenworth has gutted its gameplan with the arrival of new coach Tom Young, who came from state playoff mainstay Derby.

The Lions have seen no film of Leavenworth, so they have had to watch film of Young’s most recent Derby teams.

“It’s difficult to prepare for anybody,” Colter said. “You never know what they have, and we don’t even know how we’re going to play.”

Lawrence’s first three weeks could be the toughest three-week stretch they’ll endure this season. After tonight’s game, the Lions will return home and play Olathe North and SM North — two teams regularly mentioned as state-champion contenders — in the next two weeks.

“The good thing is, we have three or four seniors that played a lot,” Wedd said. “You can build around quality football players when you know Colter, Handshy and Kie have been through the war. They know what it’s about.”