Woodling: Defense may tip in Lions’ favor

Both teams boast explosive offenses, but only one has a proven defense.

And defense, in essence, is the reason Lawrence High will be favored in tonight’s intracity football game against Free State.

“Defensively, they’re a lot better than they were last year,” Free State coach Bob Lisher said. “They’ve made drastic improvement on defense.”

Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. A delayed telecast is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. on Sunflower Broadband Cable 6.

Lawrence High leads the Sunflower League in total defense. In winning six of seven games, the Lions are surrendering only about 178 yards a game. Lawrence High’s only loss was a 14-0 decision to Olathe South, the top-ranked team in Class 6A.

At the same time, Free State gives up more than 300 yards a game and ranks eighth in the league in total defense.

Chances are, however, that when the Firebirds and Lions meet in 2006 those numbers will be reversed.

Lawrence High’s defense has improved in large part because coach Dirk Wedd starts 10 seniors on that platoon and most of them were regulars last year. Wedd’s only returning starter on defense next season will be junior linebacker Nick DeBiasse.

Meanwhile, Lisher will have eight defensive starters back in ’06 – the seven juniors and one sophomore who will open against the Lions tonight. The bulk of those juniors have started every game. The sophomore is Mike Santee, who will be making his first start at outside linebacker, replacing junior Brian Murphy.

Lisher is starting Santee so Murphy, who scored three touchdowns in last week’s 29-6 victory over Topeka High, will be fresher on offense for tonight’s Class 6A district contest.

Murphy’s twin brother Ryan, however, will continue to go both ways at quarterback on offense and cornerback on defense.

The Murphy twins are the league’s most potent offensive duo. Ryan leads the Sunflower schools in total offense by passing for 895 yards and rushing for 504. Brian has rushed for a team-high 835 yards.

“They’re a handful,” Wedd said. “Either one can score from anywhere. On every snap, your heart is in your throat.”

Lawrence High doesn’t have anyone with the lightning speed of the Murphys, but the Lions boast big-play performers in running backs Nolan Kellerman and Nathan Hickey and wide receiver-kick returner Brandon Lassiter.

Series history

1997 – Lawrence, 34-15
1998 – Lawrence, 28-24
1999 – Free State, 31-28, OT
2000 – Lawrence, 35-0
2001 – Free State, 16-0
2002 – Lawrence, 42-26
2003 – Lawrence, 21-6
2004 – Free State, 14-12

Quarterback Brian Heere engineers the Lions’ run-oriented offense flawlessly, and he can throw the bomb, although he’s been inconsistent as a passer.

Lawrence High was also favored in last year’s meeting at Haskell Stadium. The Lions dominated statistically, but the Firebirds took advantage of a couple of turnovers and won, 14-12.

It was a classic case of the underdog winning but, as Lisher pointed out, that’s not normally the case.

“I’d much rather be the favorite,” the Free State coach said. “You can play that underdog card just so many times. You just have to show up and play.”

For his part, Wedd doesn’t thinks the favorite-underdog role means as much as the fact they have never caught the Firebirds napping.

“The track record says they’ll play their best game of the season against us,” the Lions’ coach said.

After tonight, Lawrence High and Free State each will have one district game remaining. Next Friday, the Lions will travel to Topeka High, while the Firebirds will entertain Washburn Rural at Haskell Stadium.