photo by: Carter Gaskins

Lawrence High School wide receiver Devin Neal (24) makes a move to pass Shawnee Mission South corner back Sam Macklin (1) on Friday, Oct. 5, 2018 at Shawnee Mission South High School.

OVERLAND PARK — Lawrence High football coach Steve Rampy did not mince words during his postgame message to his team.

Rampy believed the Lions had every opportunity to win their second game of the season, but a few too many mistake proved costly in the end. Despite a strong start, LHS was handed a 30-24 loss to Shawnee Mission South Friday at Shawnee Mission South stadium.

And the Lions only had themselves to blame.

“We gave it away,” Rampy said. “They were not better than us. We weren’t ready to play.”

Lawrence (1-5, 1-5 Sunflower League) struggled to move the ball after the first quarter, while Shawnee Mission South (4-2, 3-2) leaned on senior quarterback Jack Roberts to erase a 14-3 deficit. Roberts finished with 119 yards on 18 carries, and added 154 yards through the air on 19 attempts.

“Defensively, we came into the game with the goal of trying to control (Roberts),” Rampy said. “We were not ready to play, and that’s really disappointing.”

But it was LHS that made a statement out of the gate.

photo by: Carter Gaskins

on Friday, Oct. 5, 2018 at Shawnee Mission South High School.

Sophomore Devin Neal made several Shawnee Mission South defenders miss on the opening kickoff return, in which he took it 55 yards into opposing territory. Three plays later, Neal punched it in for a 5-yard touchdown run to spot the Lions a 7-0 advantage.

Lawrence added to its early lead on the first play of the second quarter when sophomore quarterback Tre’ Jackson delivered a strike on a 34-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Bryson Cummins, who dusted his corner on a post route.

“The play was designed to go to Bryson,” Jackson said. “That’s my boy, and I had to get him one. I’m just glad he caught it. It was a great catch.”

photo by: Carter Gaskins

Lawrence High School wide receiver Bryson Cummins (7) tries to break a tackle as Shawnee Mission South offensive line backer Nolan Thimmesch (20) tries to tackle him on Friday, Oct. 5, 2018 at Shawnee Mission South High School.

However, the Raiders never appeared rattled after giving up a pair of scores in the first 13 minutes of action.

Senior Hunter Carpenter took the ensuing kickoff return to the house, trimming the deficit to 14-10. Following a short punt by senior Ross Brungardt, Shawnee Mission South claimed its first advantage on the very next play.

Senior receiver Sam Macklin fooled the LHS defensive back on a double move, and was hit with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Roberts. The Lions trailed for the remainder of the contest, though they had their opportunities.

LHS had two different drives in the second quarter that started within the opposition’s 33-yard line, both of which ended in a turnover on downs.

“We scored on the first drive and we let it get to our head,” Jackson said.

The Raiders created some cushion in the third quarter on a 42-yard pass from Roberts to Macklin.

Lawrence, meanwhile, struggled to get first downs on the offensive end for much of the second half. Neal notched a 35-yard touchdown run to keep the game close. Other than Neal’s run, however, the Lions recorded just 82 yards of offense in the final two quarters.

Neal finished with 85 rushing yards on 14 carries, and Jackson added 51 yards on 13 attempts. Jackson completed 11 of 23 passes for 115 yards, as Cummins caught four passes for 76 yards. Chris McGee tallied six catches for 39 yards.

“First downs were killing us,” Rampy said. “We can’t get second and nine, that’s not us. We have to get four or five yards on first down.”

Lawrence plays host to Olathe North (4-2) at 7 p.m. Friday.

SM SOUTH 30, LAWRENCE 24

SMS | LHS

First downs 15 | 8

Rushes-yards 34-150 | 34-158

Passing yards 154 | 115

Total offense 304 | 273

Fumbles-lost 0-0 | 2-1

Interceptions 0 | 0

Penalties-yards 5-35 | 3-30

Score by quarters

SM South 3 14 7 6 — 30

Lawrence 7 7 0 10 — 24

Individual statistics

Rushing

LHS: Devin Neal 14-85, Austin Hollins 4-11, Tre’ Jackson 13-51, Graham Hough 3-11

SMS: Jack Roberts 18-119, Parker Minnick 8-12, Marquez Briscoe 4-1, Hunter Carpenter 2-10, Nolan Thimmesch 2-8

Passing

LHS: Tre’ Jackson 11-23-115

SMS: Jack Roberts 13-19-154

Receiving

LHS: Chris McGee 6-39, Bryson Cummins 4-76, Devin Neal 1-0.

SMS: Will Huggins 5-52, Sam Macklin 4-92, Parker Minnick 3-7

HOW THEY SCORED

First quarter

11:01 — Devin Neal 5 run. Ross Brungardt kick good. (LHS 7, SMS 0)

2:28 — Will Huggins 33 field goal. (LHS 7, SMS 3)

Second quarter

11:53 — Bryson Cummins 34 pass from Tre’ Jackson. Brungardt kick good. (LHS 14, SMS 3)

11:39 — Hunter Carpenter 80 return. Huggins kick good. (LHS 14, SMS 10)

5:20 — Sam Macklin 33 pass from Jack Roberts. Huggins kick good. (SMS 17, LHS 14)

Third quarter

9:22 — Macklin 42 pass from Roberts. Huggins kick good. (SMS 24, LHS 14)

Fourth quarter

7:51 — Neal 35 run. Brungardt kick good. (SMS 24, LHS 21)

2:19 — Roberts 33 run. Huggins kick blocked. (SMS 30, LHS 21)

0:22 — 20-yard field goal by Brungardt. (SMS 30, LHS 24)