photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High senior Ethan Curry is lifted in celebration by defensive lineman Alex Bart after a pick six in the Lions' game against Shawnee Mission Northwest on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, at the Shawnee Mission District North Stadium in Overland Park.

The Lawrence football regular season ends on Friday with a game that means more than most as Free State comes across town to Lawrence High.

Every week, the goal for any football program is to go one game at a time, not letting any game get too important. But Jason Thoren knows that will be especially hard on Friday once the game starts and the Lions are facing people they know. Keeping the focus inward and on what the Lions need to do to win will be the key for Lawrence to get the City Showdown win.

“It all comes down to your own execution and how you execute,” Thoren said.

This year’s Lawrence team knows as well as anybody how rivalry games don’t follow conventional wisdom. Lawrence hadn’t won a game all last year until the Lions hosted a 5-2 Free State team. But the Lions dominated all game long, winning 24-6 for the lone win of the 2025 season.

Lawrence is now 5-2 and hosting a Free State team that has struggled with injuries. The Firebirds went on a four-game losing streak before getting the team’s third win a week ago against Shawnee Mission South, relying on younger players to step up and win.

What gets Free State to win remains largely the same, even with — some physical, downhill running on offense and an aggressive attacking defense.

“(We) know they have some really good football players over there, and they do,” Thoren said.

Free State has had to turn to several different quarterbacks this season. Senior Finn Moore started the season behind center, with sophomore Rohan Patel mixing in at times. But with injuries to both, sophomore Packson McDaniel stepped up in the Firebirds’ 41-14 win over Shawnee Mission South last week. It’ll be McDaniel leading the Firebird offense again on Friday.

“He’s a great player,” Thoren said of McDaniel. “He can do some great things with the ball in his hands.”

While McDaniel will be tasked with running the offense, the offense will run through the running backs of senior Maddon Brittingham and junior Michael Harrison. The two combined for 233 yards a week ago on 30 carries combined. What makes the stable of running backs so challenging to defend is their ability to both consistently get three or more yards a carry and hit some home runs.

“These guys are a little bit of a different animal because they have good hard runners, they have quick runners, they have guys that can switch it and turn big plays with just a little bit of daylight,” Thoren said. “The line does a dang good job of what they do.”

The Firebirds average over 32 points per game and have only scored under 28 points once in a 25-14 loss to Gardner Edgerton. The Firebirds have proven this year that no matter who is where, the team can come together to generate an effective offense. Thoren said the Lions have to bring the same run defense mindset they had last year into this matchup.

Defensively, the Firebirds can get downhill and attack just as much as their offense. It can be a challenge to run the ball with quick linebackers who can get to the line so quickly, and their blitzing can put more pressure on the pass protection.

The Firebirds can also change up their defensive fronts to challenge whatever the offense is showing. Their versatility allows them to be aggressive and make it difficult for offenses.

“They’ve got the ability to go three down — they’ve got the ability to go four down and mix and match,” Thoren said. “For us, it’s recognition and getting things blocked correctly up front.”

The Lions have had a high-scoring offense in large part because of the team’s offensive line. Thoren believes the group has only gotten better as the season has progressed.

The Firebirds have made plays as a defensive unit, but they’ve still given up a lot of points in various games. The defense is averaging over 28 points per game, but in the Firebirds’ four-game win streak, the defense allowed nearly 38 points per game.

“For us, it’s again about being assignment sound coming off the ball and doing a good job in protection,” Thoren said. “When we throw the ball, we have to be able to get the ball out on time. They’re going to force you to have to execute.”

Not only would a win Friday be the team’s second City Showdown victory in a row, but it would put Lawrence at six wins in the regular season, the most for the team since 2023. With playoffs quickly approaching and seeding being figured out, securing a win and a home playoff game would mean a lot for the Lions.