Nobody on Lawrence High’s football team is putting his head down after last week’s loss in the City Showdown. Instead, it was back to business as usual for the Lions, as they put together a strong week of practices.

They hope that’ll lead to better results when they face Shawnee Mission Northwest at 7 tonight at LHS.

“I think we brought the intensity a little bit more,” senior linebacker and H-back Stevin Hays said. “We noticed we’re 1-2 right now. We need to change that. We need to turn that around. After getting embarrassed by our rivals like that, it’s time to step it up and figure things out.”

One thing the Lions have already figured out is that they have a strong defense. They gave up points after getting worn down in the second half last week, but they still rank fifth in the Sunflower League in rushing yards allowed with just 490 yards on 113 carries.

A big reason for the success stopping the run is junior inside linebacker Price Morgan, who is second in the Sunflower League with 45 tackles this year.

“He’s a great worker,” junior inside linebacker Tanner Green said. “Every day, we work together hard and see improvement. We challenge each other to try to do better than the other, all the time, like a competition.”

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Morgan, who also starts at center for the boys basketball team, uses his strength and size to his advantage when chasing down ball-carriers.

“He just has a nose for the ball,” Hays said. “He’s very intense, and he’s always out there trying to find out who’s got the ball. He’ll make plays from across the field on someone that caught a ball 10 yards out. He just flies around.”

A big help for Morgan’s success is the defensive line, which Morgan is quick to credit, as it keeps blockers away from him. He also benefits from the Lions’ defensive schemes, which allow him to roam free.

“Last year I didn’t know what I was doing as much,” said Morgan, who also starts at tight end. “This year, I’m really starting to understand what’s going on. When you stop worrying about what you’re supposed to do, you just start running and making plays, and that’s really what I credit it to.”

LHS probable starters

Offense

LT — Stephen Garcia, sr.

LG — Nathan Koehn, jr.

C — Cole Greenwood, sr.

RG — Jacob Unruh, so.

RT — Amani Bledsoe, jr.

QB — Alan Clothier, jr.

RB — JD Woods, jr.

H — Stevin Hays, sr.

WR — Nyle Anderson, sr.

WR — Zak McAlister, sr.

TE — Price Morgan, jr.

K — Ellis Springe, sr.

P — Luke Zenger, sr.

Defense

DE — Cole Greenwood, sr.

NG — Nathan Koehn, jr.

DE — Amani Bledsoe, jr.

OLB — Konner Kelley, jr.

ILB — Price Morgan, jr.

ILB — Tanner Green, jr.

OLB — Stevin Hays, sr.

CB — JD Woods, jr.

CB — Ivan Hollins, jr.

SS — J’Mony Bryant, jr.

FS — Dearion Cooper, sr.