Olathe ? It was difficult to determine which aspect of Lawrence High’s first half was more impressive Thursday night – the offense’s domination or the defense’s refusal to give an inch.

Then again, the Lions’ first drive of the second half might have trumped them both.

It was that kind of night for the Lions in Olathe. LHS (1-1) picked up its first victory of the season, a 28-0 pasting of Olathe Northwest (0-2).

One week after unleashing an eye-opening spread offense in a loss to Olathe North, the Lions began Thursday’s contest by doing what they always have done best – run the football.

Clifton Sims and Tyler Hunt set the tone early, running over, through, past and around Olathe Northwest tacklers. The offensive line did its part as well, exploding at the snap all night.

Sims finished with 26 carries for 146 yards. Hunt carried 18 times for 53 yards and three touchdowns. In all, LHS racked up 243 yards on the ground and 355 yards of total offense.

“I think, after tonight, we can be balanced, more balanced than we’ve ever been,” LHS coach Dirk Wedd said. “We’ve been so heavy run that people just keep loading up and loading up. Well, when they loaded up tonight, we started throwing it and spreading it and running from sideline to sideline, and it’s hard to defend a team that can be so balanced and attack you in so many ways.”

The Lions called eight running plays before attempting their first pass.

“The wind was a huge factor at the start,” Wedd said. “It’s hard to throw it into that wind. I wanted those offensive linemen to understand that we do things a certain way at Lawrence High, and that’s coming off the ball and finishing blocks. I think we got the message across.”

LHS was sharp from the start. The Lions took the opening kickoff down to the Ravens’ two-yard line only to be turned away by a goal-line stand. From there, the defense rose to the challenge. Backed up against its own end zone, Olathe Northwest fumbled on its second play from scrimmage. The Ravens recovered that one. Two plays later, however, LHS junior Aaron Rea pounced on another ONW fumble, giving the Lions great field position at the Ravens’ 30-yard line. In all, Olathe Northwest put the ball on the turf four times, losing two of them.

LHS’s first score came seven plays later when Hunt powered his way in from four yards out. The Lions’ next drive delivered more of the same, as Hunt, Sims and quarterback Clint Pinnick methodically moved the Lions down the field. Touchdown No. 2 came from Pinnick, who slipped through the middle of the defense for a six-yard TD run. Pinnick’s score was set up by Jared Vinoverski’s 16-yard grab along the sideline on third-and-seven.

Although he was overshadowed by the ground attack, Pinnick finished the night 8-of-12 for 112 yards.

One of the Lions’ few mistakes came in the second quarter, when Pinnick’s option pitch to Sims hit the ground and was recovered by Northwest near midfield. But on the very next play, Hunt recovered a fumble by ONW quarterback C.J. Krug and the Lions were back in business.

Hunt reaped the benefit of his recovery, scoring his second touchdown of the night on the ensuing drive. His two-point conversion run put the Lions ahead 20-0 at the half.

LHS received the second-half kickoff, as well, and delivered a drive that put the game on ice – 19 plays, 67 yards, 9:25 off the clock. Hunt’s two-yard run was the final blow.

“We definitely wanted to come out a lot stronger in the second half than we did last week,” Hunt said. “We just wanted to hit ’em hard and shove it down their throats.”

For Sims, the rebirth of the running game was a welcome sign. He said his 26 carries weren’t too many, rather not enough.

“We just did what we usually do to get a win,” Sims said. “Passing’s good but we love the run. Me and Hunt back there, we like to work. And our line, they might be small, but they’ll hit you.”