Throughout the last several decades, playoff football appearances at Lawrence High have not been luxuries but expected opportunities.

That all changed last season, when the Lions dropped two of three district games and were left out of the postseason picture.

For this year’s senior class, a group that has made a large impact in a relatively short time, the team’s return to the playoffs is something to cherish.

“I didn’t play my sophomore year,” senior wideout Aaron Rea said. “So, for me, this is my first time in the playoffs. I know it’s a Lawrence High tradition to make the playoffs every year and win a few games, and that’s what we want to do. We’re not happy just to make it. We want to take advantage of getting in.”

As the No. 2 seed in Class 6A, District 4, the Lions (4-5) will face Blue Valley (8-1) at 7 tonight at Blue Valley High. The Tigers earned the right to hold the game by finishing 3-0 in their district.

Blue Valley enters the contest with one of the most potent offenses the Lions will have seen all season. Coach Steve Rampy likes to throw the ball and airs it out often. In addition, Rampy’s team has good balance and can mix in its running game if teams focus too much on stopping the pass.

“He’s an outstanding coach,” LHS coach Dirk Wedd said. “Without question one of the top three coaches in the state of Kansas. He’s won four or five state championships. He’s got a great football team this year, his kids play hard, they’ll go five-wide on offense, and they’ll throw it all over the yard.”

Because of that, Lawrence’s emphasis will be on its own offense.

“We’re going to have to somehow control their passing game and then find a way to control the football,” Wedd said. “If we can find a way to do that, I think we’ve got a shot.”

The good news for the Lions is that tonight’s strategy has pretty much been their game plan all season. Behind relentless efforts from senior running backs Clifton Sims and Jake Green, LHS often has kept things on the ground on offense, chewing up yards and winding down the clock. That no doubt will be the agenda again tonight, and that’s just fine with those Lions who might otherwise like to air it out.

“If (Blue Valley’s) going to pass the ball all night, the clock’s not going to move as fast as we want it to,” senior quarterback Clint Pinnick said. “So we really need to have our running game going. I just want to do whatever is needed to win the game. Individual stuff doesn’t matter anymore. All that matters is that we do whatever it takes to win as a team.”