photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High sophomore quarterback Joey Dooley receives the snap against Shawnee Mission North at Shawnee Mission District Stadium, North Location, on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 in Overland Park.

Overland Park — To get the first win of the season, Lawrence needed to keep Shawnee Mission North from getting two yards on back-to-back plays.

Down by 7 in overtime, the Bison had a fourth-and-2 where Shawnee Mission North quarterback Alex Casares rolled to his right and looked like he was about to be sacked before he popped the ball up into the end zone for a touchdown. On the following 2-point conversion, Casares hit Carter Middleton, giving the Bison a one-point win.

“It was (cover) zero — they had hit us on some speed option a couple of times, so we were talking about if they were to come back to that,” Lawrence coach Jason Thoren said of the fourth down play. “The (quarterback) was able to slip out and we lost the tight end.”

Lawrence (0-7) lost 29-28 to Shawnee Mission North (1-6), sending the Lions home heartbroken after a fourth one-score loss this season.

“Our guys have played a lot of close games, and they’re tired of it,” Thoren said. “It’s not an easy message after a game like that.”

The Lions started with the ball and picked up a quick first down after two 5-yard runs from senior running back Tahj Edwards. A run for no gain and an incomplete pass on third-and-6 stalled the drive before the team could cross midfield.

Lawrence’s defense came out with a big stop on the first defensive drive. Sophomore linebacker KJ Turner and junior linebacker Alex Bart burst through the line on second down and sacked Casares, setting up a third-and-15 that the Bison could not convert.

Edwards put the Lions into the red zone quickly with a 60-yard run on the second play of the drive, reaching the 4-yard line. After a 3-yard pickup from junior receiver Ethan Curry, Edwards scored with a 1-yard run.

Lawrence’s defense continued to put pressure on the Bison, and junior defensive lineman Malachi Chrismon came up with a third-down sack that forced the Bison to punt.

Dooley took off on the first play of the next drive for a 41-yard run, but holding calls and miscues set the Lions back. Lawrence had a fourth-and-2 where Dooley threw to an open Edwards on a route out of the backfield, but the running back was unable to hold onto the ball while turning upfield, leading to a drop and a turnover on downs early in the second quarter.

The Lions picked up another third-down sack, this time from senior linebacker Josh Galbreath. He used his speed to chase down Casares on a rollout for a 10-yard loss. After a drive that fell flat in Bison territory, the Lions held strong on defense and forced a turnover on downs at the 50-yard line.

“We were doing what we wanted to do,” Thoren said of the defense in the first half.

Edwards took the first-down carry 45 yards from the 50-yard line deep into the red zone, which was his second run of 40 yards or more. He finished the drive two plays later on a 1-yard touchdown run. Dooley hit senior receiver Jaxon Becker for a successful 2-point conversion, giving the Lions a 14-0 lead shortly before halftime.

Shawnee Mission North didn’t go anywhere with the final drive of the first half, but the Bison had their best drive of the game to start the second half. The Bison turned to some option runs and worked their way down the field, reaching the red zone for the first time in the game.

Despite a couple of penalties backing the Bison up to the 28-yard line on a first-and-goal, the Bison scored with a touchdown from Casares to Middleton.

Lawrence responded immediately on the next drive. Thanks to a taunting penalty and multiple illegal kicks, the Lions started the drive at the Shawnee Mission North 44-yard line. That field position dissipated immediately after a bad snap resulted in a 15-yard loss. But the Lions turned to the pass game, and Dooley hit Becker for an 18-yard catch, followed by a 14-yard throw to Curry.

The Lions reached the red zone with an 18-yard catch on third down by Edwards, who made up for his earlier drop with the big conversion. He finished the drive with a 2-yard scoring run, which was his third of the night.

Shawnee Mission North kept to the ground game as the Bison ran the ball down the field, scoring on a 10-yard run in the first minute of the final quarter. Lawrence picked up a first down on the following drive but punted the ball to the 14-yard line after a near interception resulted in a fourth-and-4.

The Lions had the Bison in a third-and-4 just beyond midfield when Casares while scrambling hit a receiver for a short pass that wound up being a 56-yard touchdown play to tie the game.

“Normally we’ve come out strong out of half, but we just allowed them to stay in the game,” Thoren said. “They were able to run the ball a little bit, but I think we just allowed them to dink and dunk too much and stay on the field.”

Lawrence started to drive with some solid runs and drained the clock, but a holding on a third-and-9 put the team far behind the sticks. Dooley threw a deep interception, giving the Bison the ball at the Lawrence 37-yard line. The Bison moved the ball to the 16-yard line with 10.2 seconds left to set up a game-winning field goal, but the kick was blocked, sending the game to overtime.

The Lions started with the ball in overtime and found the end zone with a 2-yard run by Curry. A successful PAT gave the Lions a 7-point lead.

But it didn’t last long. The Bison went eight yards in three plays but got the final two yards when they needed it most on fourth down and on the 2-point conversion, ending the game and bringing on a field storm to celebrate Shawnee Mission North’s first win of the year.

Lawrence has one game left on schedule, a home rivalry game against Free State. Thoren has seen his team step up and play hard every game this year, and he expects nothing else next Friday at 7 p.m.

Box score:

LHS 6 8 7 0 7 – 28

SMN 0 0 7 14 8 – 29

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High senior running back Tahj Edwards carries the ball past the Shawnee Mission North defense at Shawnee Mission District Stadium, North Location, on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 in Overland Park.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High senior running back Tahj Edwards carries the ball past the Shawnee Mission North defense at Shawnee Mission District Stadium, North Location, on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 in Overland Park.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High senior wide receiver Jaxon Becker points to the crowd after a touchdown against Shawnee Mission North at Shawnee Mission District Stadium, North Location, on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 in Overland Park.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High senior wide receiver Jaxon Becker catches the ball against Shawnee Mission North at Shawnee Mission District Stadium, North Location, on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 in Overland Park.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High senior linebacker Josh Galbreath sacks Shawnee Mission North quarterback Alex Casares at Shawnee Mission District Stadium, North Location, on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 in Overland Park.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

The Lawrence High football team breaks a huddle before the game against Shawnee Mission North at Shawnee Mission District Stadium, North Location, on Thursday Oct. 16, 2025 in Overland Park.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High junior wide receiver Caleb Wingerd celebrates in the end zone after a touchdown in overtime against Shawnee Mission North at Shawnee Mission District Stadium, North Location, on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 in Overland Park.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High senior kicker Hunter Nolin kicks the extra point after a touchdown during overtime against Shawnee Mission North at Shawnee Mission District Stadium, North Location, on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 in Overland Park.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High sophomore Truth Pope recovers the ball against Shawnee Mission North at Shawnee Mission District Stadium, North Location, on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 in Overland Park.