When Lawrence High plays host to Shawnee Mission East at 7 tonight, it will be without one of its main cogs on offense, senior running back Charles Jackson.

Jackson is out for the year after suffering a broken fibula and dislocated ankle in the fourth quarter of last week’s game against Leavenworth. He had his operation Tuesday and received a plate with several screws in his leg.

The Lions won’t have him on the field for the remainder of this season, though his high school athletic career may not be over.

“Hopefully he’ll be playing basketball by mid-December,” football coach Dirk Wedd said.

The Lions aren’t even halfway through with their schedule, so they have time to find answers to replace Jackson. Wedd said the Lions will be counting on a running back by committee, which is a change of pace from the one-man show Jackson put on.

LHS has had a potent offense this season, and the only obstacle has been its own turnovers, not opposing defenses. The system works, and it puts the team in position to score points, so Wedd isn’t about to change how the team operates.

“We’re averaging 450 yards a game,” Wedd said. “We like what we’re doing. We might tweak it here and there because Charles added a lot of speed. We won’t be as fast.”

Junior running back Jordan Brown received most of the carries last week after Jackson went down, so he should be in the rushing mix. Juniors Tyrone Jenkins and Asaph Jewson are the only other running backs on the roster who are upperclassmen, so each could see a featured role tonight.

But anyone who has watched the Lions this season knows that the running game isn’t complete without junior quarterback Brad Strauss carrying his share. In two games this season, he led the team in rushes.

“We’re very fortunate to have someone that’s got the skill level to throw it and run,” Wedd said.

While the offense tries to figure out its kinks in the running game, the receivers could have to shoulder more of the offensive load. Senior receiver Anthony Buffalomeat said the passing offense should be ready to score this week when called upon, something that has been a challenge this season. And there’s just one other glaring weakness that needs to be addressed.

“Less turnovers,” Buffalomeat said.

He said those words abruptly, as if that is the team’s biggest flaw. The Lions have turned the ball over in all four games this season, including a few in the red zone. LHS worked on scoring all week, but it won’t mean much if the Lions can’t hang on to the ball.

Most of the turnovers come from Strauss throwing interceptions – some not his fault – and receiving bad snaps, which is usually the beginning of an offensive disaster. Meanwhile, senior center Brady Murrish continues to sit out because of a knee injury. It was after his injury in the second game of the season that the fumbled-snap problems began.

That’s just something else Strauss has to deal with along with throwing, running, playing safety and playing special teams. With Jackson no longer a part of this offense, the whole team is basically depending on Strauss to do everything.

“We just have to get the ball into Brad’s hands,” Buffalomeat said.