photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High quarterback Banks Bowen carries the ball against Olathe South on Sept. 1, 2023.

Olathe – A showcase of speed and physicality is the best way to describe the Lawrence High football team’s 41-22 win at Olathe South in Friday’s season opener.

Making his first official start at quarterback, junior Banks Bowen stole the show with 21 carries for 197 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Completing just four passes on the night, Bowen chipped in 65 yards through the air as well.

O-South featured a similar gimmick with starting senior quarterback Bryce Noernberg, who provided 148 yards rushing and all three of the Falcons’ scores. The LHS defense limited Noernberg and O-South to just 289 yards total on the evening.

LHS head coach Clint Bowen knew it was going to be a battle of the QBs’ legs entering Friday’s game, however, he feels his team will need to expand the playbook further than the option.

“Our pass protection is going to have to pick up a lot more,” Clint Bowen said after the win. “Nobody can play a season like that.”

A combination of touches to Malcolm Paul and Anthony Jacobsen got the Lions rolling early, but a 22-yard first-down rush by Banks Bowen put LHS in prime scoring position. Working up to the goal line, Banks Bowen punched in a short TD run right away, and the Lions were up 7-0 with 6:35 still to go in the first quarter.

O-South returner Dylan Talcott then set the Falcons up at the LHS 17-yard line for their first drive of the ballgame, and they found pay dirt in just three plays. Noernberg charged in for a 10-yard TD run and also delivered a two-point conversion to hand O-South an 8-7 lead.

Working over some clock, LHS jumped back out front, 14-8, on another short-yardage TD rush by Banks Bowen with 3:36 to go in the first. On the ensuing kickoff, O-South gifted LHS a turnover — which was recovered by sophomore Jaxon Becker — to bring the Lions’ offense right back out.

From the Falcons’ 42-yard line, Banks Bowen led LHS back into the end zone, padding the Lions’ lead to 21-8 with just 48 seconds left in the first. Shortly after, Noernberg showcased his run game skills and took a QB sneak 73 yards for a well-timed TD, cutting the LHS lead to 21-15 shortly before the second quarter.

The scoring antics came to a halt at the start of the second quarter, with both squads exchanging three-and-outs on the quarter’s first three drives. A big-time sack by LHS senior defensive end Connor Nowak capped off a fourth consecutive scoreless drive with just over three minutes left in the half.

Banks Bowen then cleared another touchdown run, and the Lions were up 28-15 with just 1:38 left to go in the first half.

“It was nice to know I could get away with a few things,” Banks Bowen said. “I was hanging out in the backfield for so long… we have a ton of room to grow. I think we can make an impact on the passing game next week and keep growing as a team.”

But O-South wasn’t done yet, and it worked its way back into the Lions’ territory quickly thanks to a 32-yard reception by senior Jackson Skeens. LHS stalled the Falcons in the red zone, though, forcing a field goal try that was blocked and recovered by sophomore linebacker Jayden Harrell mere moments before halftime.

Senior offensive lineman and defensive tackle Kem Allen was impressed with the younger names popping up in the first half. The veteran felt the team’s pressure benefited from that contribution down the line.

“I think the ceiling is the stars, you know,” Allen said. “Each week we’re going to get better and take the right steps, moving people back all week. I think we’re still trying to get together, but I always say the chemistry is there.”

The Falcons opened the second half with another muffed kick return, which was recovered by a pack of Lions near the O-South 42-yard line. Paul delivered the first score of the second half — a 5-yard TD run — for LHS with 10:44 still to play in the third quarter.

O-South, now down by three scores, responded on the corresponding drive with yet another TD run from Noernberg, bringing the Falcons back within reach, 35-22, with just under six minutes left to go in the third quarter.

The Lions were thwarted on their last drive of the third quarter, but LHS entered the fourth quarter eager to stave off O-South’s attempts at a late resurgence.

Noernberg, leaving the game briefly after a hard hit, led O-South all the way up to the LHS 20-yard line with just over seven minutes left in the game. With the Falcons knocking on the door, LHS sophomore safety Josh Galbreath forced a key third-down situation for O-South. While reaching for a first down, Noernberg fumbled near the Lions’ 18-yard line, and LHS sophomore safety Noah Richardson snatched the loose ball.

Back in possession with under five minutes to go, Banks Bowen and LHS slowly worked down the clock and closed in on the end zone to try for an insurance score. Paul sneaked back into the end zone on a 4-yard TD rush, putting the hammer down on a Week 1 victory for the Lions.

“(The win) was good because O-South is a competitive team,” Bowen said. “That’s a team that had some big wins last year with a coaching staff that does a nice job. They’re a scary opponent and very well coached… so to win this one and get that first one out of the way… the improvement between Week 1 and Week 2 is always so critical.”

GAME STATS

Lawrence 21 7 7 6 – 41

Olathe South 15 0 7 0 – 22

LHS | O-South

First downs 16 | 10

Rushing 338 | 211

Passing 65 | 78

Total offense 403 | 289

Fumbles lost 0 | 3

Interceptions 0 | 0

Penalties-yards 2-15 | 1-15

HOW THEY SCORED:

1Q:

7:34 – LHS touchdown: Bowen 7 rush. Lefort kick is good. (LHS 7, O-South 0)

6:35 – O-South touchdown: Noernburg 10 run. Two-point conversion is good. (LHS 7, O-South 8)

3:36 – LHS touchdown: Bowen 4 run. Lefort kick is good. (LHS 14, O-South 8)

0:48 – Banks 1 run. Lefort kick is good (LHS 21, O-South 8)

0:32 – O-South touchdown: Noernburg 73 run. Hodapp kick is good. (LHS 21, O-South 15)

2Q:

1:38 – LHS touchdown: Bowen 8 run. Lefort kick is good. (LHS 28, O-South 15)

3Q:

10:44 – LHS touchdown: Paul 5 run. Lefort kick is good. (LHS 35, O-South 15)

5:59 – O-South touchdown: Noernburg 1 run. Hodapp kick is good. (LHS 25, O-South 22)

4Q:

2:21 – LHS touchdown: Paul 4 run. Two-point attempt is no good. (LHS 41, O-South 22)

INDIVIDUAL STATS:

Rushing

LHS: Bowen 21-197; Paul 13-82; Jacobsen 8-56; Allen 1-3.

O-South: Noernburg 11-148; Armstrong 5-40; Warren 4-23.

Passing

LHS: Bowen 4-15, 65

O-South: Noerburg 6-15, 78

Receiving

LHS: Mosiman 1-25; Wingerd 1-15; Becker 1-15; Grammer 1-10.

O-South: Skeens 3-58; Warren 3-20.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence QB Banks Bowen (4) throws a pass downfield against Olathe South on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence’s Malcolm Paul (5) celebrates a first down with teammates on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence’s Malcolm Paul (5) breaks a tackle past Olathe South’s Joel Williams (32) on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence’s Malcolm Paul (5) runs downfield as Olathe South’s Carter Bohm (26) looks to stop him on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence’s Banks Bowen (4) hands the ball off to Malcom Paul (5) on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.
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photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence’s Zander Thomas (3) tries to catch his breath after a play on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence Head Coach Clint Bowen paces the sideline early in the first quarter against Olathe South on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence’s Josh Galbreath (8) attempted to catch a pass over Olathe South’s Nic Anderson (20) in the first quarter on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence quarterback Banks Bowen (4) outruns Olathe South’s Andrew Nogueras (22) on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence’s Malcolm Paul (5) runs through the line as Olathe South’s Matt Gray (79) and Elijah Mullen (23) try to stop him Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Journal-World photo

Kansas wide receiver Luke Grimm, pulls in a catch against Missouri State Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Olathe South running back Max Armstrong (21) stiff arms Lawrence defender Ben Marker (9) on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence quarterback Banks Bowen (4) tries to break away from Olathe South’s Max Armstrong (21) on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.

Kansas head coach, Lance Leipold, talks to a referee late in the second quarter Friday against Missouri State.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence wide receiver Mason Mosiman (7) looks to make a move on Olathe South’s Nic Anderson (20) on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence QB Banks Bowen (4) throws a pass downfield against Olathe South on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.