photo by: Nick Krug/Journal-World photo

Lawrence High's Kem Allen celebrates the Lions' 27-19 win over Free State on Friday, Oct. 22, 2021 at Lawrence High School.

It’s amazing what emotion can do in a rivalry game.

Never was that more evident than on Friday night at Lawrence High School, where the Lions knocked off the Free State Firebirds, 27-19, in the latest edition of the city showdown.

From the opening kickoff throughout the entirety of the first half, LHS appeared to play a little looser and with more energy. Simply put, it looked like the Lions were having more fun.

The game script played a big role in that, as LHS scored twice in the game’s first five minutes to take a 13-0 lead. But the big completions and highlight-reel plays merely added to the extra energy funneling its way through the LHS sideline.

As they tend to do in rivalry games like this, things changed quite a bit in the second half. Trailing 19-7 at the break, it was the Firebirds (6-2) who came out with more energy and less uneasiness in the third quarter.

Sparked by the stellar play — and will — of their do-everything quarterback, Jet Dineen, Free State scored 12 straight points in the third quarter and fourth quarter to tie the game.

This, after a goal-line stand on the final play of the first half saved the Firebirds from falling into too deep of a hole.

All of a sudden, those running plays that went for no gain or losses in the first two quarters turned into broken tackles and chunk plays.

The Free State defensive line that struggled to dictate anything in the first half started to get pressure on LHS quarterback Truman Juelsgaard and put the Lions on their heels.

Just like that, it was the Firebirds, and their sideline and supporters, who were riding the wave of emotion all the way to a comeback.

That set the stage for the kind of finish that every city showdown — in every sport — should be so lucky to have.

Emotion played a big part in that, too.

After scrambling to find their footing and watching the Firebirds throw a party after every big play, the Lions (6-2) settled down and delivered a drive that looked an awful lot like the opening drive of the game.

They played with poise, confidence and calm and moved the chains play after play, eating up most of the clock in the process.

This one was so good that no one on either side seemed to have any kind of feel for whether they should be mad or glad until the clock showed :00.

One play captured that feeling.

With the Lions facing third-and-seven from the FSHS 28 with 1:51 to play in the game, Juelsgaard scrambled and heaved a pass toward the end zone.

The pass soared high into the night sky and stayed there for what felt like several minutes. When it finally came down and landed in the hands of tight end Cole Watson, the entire LHS side of the stadium exploded in euphoria. Just the way it had for much of the first half, when the game’s emotion that swung back and forth like Tarzan across a river was on the side of the home team.

Didn’t make it or get enough of this year’s city showdown on Friday night?

Not to worry.

Both teams have enough firepower to make a run in the postseason. If they do, there’s a chance they could face each other again, next time with even more on the line.

Given the scene at 19th and Louisiana on Friday night, that hardly seems possible. But there’s no doubt that a rematch would draw even more attention and bring even more buzz to the town’s high school sports scene.

Talk about a surge of emotion.

photo by: Nick Krug/Journal-World photo

Lawrence High receiver Cole Watson (8) pulls in a catch deep in Free State territory to set the Lions up for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, Friday, Oct. 22, 2021 at Lawrence High School.