Lawrence High let a few football games slip away this season — a six-point loss to Leavenworth in the season opener, an overtime defeat at the hands of state power Olathe South and last week’s 14-12 setback against rival Free State.

Friday night’s regular-season finale against Topeka High never was in doubt.

“We knew we had to come out after last week and send a statement to our fans that we’re still here, and we’re going to get in the playoffs,” senior running back Ian Handshy said. “We did it.”

LHS, which overcame an 0-3 start, advanced to the Class 6A state playoffs with a 57-0 victory over the Trojans at Haskell Stadium.

Handshy did much of the damage, rushing for a career-high 226 yards and four touchdowns on only 11 carries.

LHS (4-5 overall, 2-1 district) came out with a no-huddle attack and racked up 533 yards rushing against Topeka (4-5, 1-2).

“We wanted to take the fight to them right away,” LHS coach Dirk Wedd said.

It worked. LHS had 179 rushing yards in the first quarter alone. Nolan Kellerman started the scoring with a 14-yard touchdown run on the Lions’ opening drive.

LHS got the ball right back when Tony Williams forced Topeka’s Donovan Briggs to fumble the kickoff, and Matthew Stiles recovered at Topeka’s 39.

Lawrence High running back Ian Handshy (38) races for a touchdown in the first quarter against Topeka High. Handshy rushed for 226 yards and four touchdowns, and the Lions routed the Trojans, 57-0, Friday at Haskell Stadium.

Handshy later scored from 12 yards out. The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder scored on his next two carries as well, bolting 78 and 64 yards on a pair of trap plays.

“My line did a great job,” said Handshy, who averaged 20.5 yards a carry.

In between Handshy’s two long runs, Jeff Colter added a two-yard TD run set up by Marc Alber’s punt block and recovery.

Colter’s second TD, a 25-yarder, made it 43-0 at halftime. The senior finished with 116 yards on 12 carries.

Handshy added a 16-yard TD run with 4:01 left in the third quarter, and Wedd pulled his starters soon after.

“Ian’s a good back,” Wedd said. “He runs hard. They were taking Colter away. You have to decide which guy you want to get hurt by.”

6Sports video: Lawrence High sweeps Topeka (10-30-04) Photo Gallery: LHS vs. Topeka High 10.29

Wedd pulled his starters late in the third quarter, but LHS still managed to mount another scoring drive. Williams tacked on a 46-yard TD run with 11:52 remaining, and the sophomore backup finished with 92 yards on just eight carries.

Lawrence’s defense did its part, too. LHS stopped Topeka on downs three times in the first half and once more after intermission.

Lawrence High's Jeff Colter receives a congratulatory hug from Mark Albers after Colter scored a touchdown in the first half. The Lions blasted Topeka High, 57-0, Friday night at Haskell Stadium.

Topeka quarterback Chase Briggs entered the game with 691 yards rushing, but the Lions stopped him behind the line of scrimmage four times and he finished with 23 yards on 16 carries.

The Trojans netted 123 yards total offense on 45 plays.

Topeka’s best chance to score came on third-and-goal from the LHS three, but Nick DeBiasse picked off a tipped pass with 7:59 remaining.

Lawrence, the runner-up in District 4, will play District 2 champion Blue Valley Northwest on Nov. 5 at Overland Park.

Northwest (7-2, 3-0) defeated Blue Valley North, 34-18, Friday night.

“They’re going to be tough,” Handshy said. “We have to come out and work as hard as we can to keep progressing in the playoffs.”