Lawrence High can be sure of one thing when playing against Blue Valley Northwest in the first round of the Class 6A football playoffs tonight.

The Huskies certainly haven’t forgotten.

Last year, the Lions entered the playoffs as the underdog with a 4-5 record, traveling on the road to take on a 7-2 Husky team.

No, Northwest hasn’t forgotten about the 17-0 loss to Lawrence to end its season. That much is for sure.

“We walked into their stadium and beat them, and they’re going to remember that,” LHS coach Dirk Wedd said. “It’s going to be a tough football game.”

This year, the site will be Lawrence’s Haskell Stadium, and LHS will enter the 7:30 p.m. showdown as the favorite with an 8-1 record and top seed in the district.

Meanwhile, Northwest (7-2) will look to turn the tables and end Lawrence’s season on its own turf.

The Huskies have won six of their last seven, with their only losses coming to Blue Springs (Mo.) South and Shawnee Mission West.

“They’re a big, strong team,” Wedd said. “They can run the football on you. If we can’t stop the run, we’re going to be in trouble.”

Lawrence High's Nolan Kellerman tries to avoid a Shawnee Mission East defender. The Lions won the matchup earlier this year, part of the 8-1 record they take into tonight's playoff clash with Blue Valley Northwest.

Wedd expects a low-scoring affair, with both defenses considered among the best in their respective leagues.

Both teams combined for just 246 total yards in last season’s playoff game, with Northwest mustering only 65.

“I think the advantage we have is that we’re playing at Haskell,” Wedd said. “That’s the right you get with our No. 1 seed.”

Lawrence enters the game with its only loss coming in the middle of the season against top-ranked Olathe South.

The Lions also feel like they have some destiny on their side. Since the playoff system was started, 10 LHS squads have gone 8-1. Seven of those have won state titles.

“I think the town’s really hungry to support a winner,” Wedd said. “We’ve had a lot of support all year.”

Matt Stiles will start in the backfield in place of the injured Nathan Hickey. Coaches will decide before the game how much the tailback is allowed to play.

Wedd said he believed his senior-laden team would step up to the challenge against Northwest.

“This football team is made up of a whole bunch of winners,” Wedd said. “They don’t accept anything else.”

Though the team was pleased with its district title and appearance in the playoffs, Wedd said the squad was focused on a higher aim.

“They want to be a team that people talk about for a long, long time,” Wedd said. “Being 8-1 and then losing in the first round – people aren’t going to talk about you. You’ve got to make some noise and get deep in the playoffs for people to say that Lawrence High is back.

“That’s their goal.”

Because it is a playoff game, no passes will be accepted in accordance with KSHSAA rules.