photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High junior Luke Kress takes down Gardner Edgerton junior Stevy Toensei on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026 in Gardner.

GARDNER — A blocked field goal with six seconds left on the clock proved to be the difference in Lawrence’s 28-26 road loss at Gardner Edgerton on Friday.

While the Trailblazers powered their way with the run game, the Lions stuck to the quick passing game and went toe-to-toe with the 6A champs of two of the last three seasons. In the end, the Trailblazers made the winning plays late to come back from down 11 points and win.

“I saw a lot,” Lawrence coach Jason Thoren said of his team. “They played hard. That was a good team and shoot, we were right there. I couldn’t be more proud of our guys.”

Gardner Edgerton stuck to the ground game on the first drive, and got a good chunk of their drives’ total yardage on a 47-yard run. Junior running back Manny Mulwa put the Trailblazers in the red zone for the first time with that run, and he put the ball in the end zone a few plays later. Gardner Edgerton went for the 2-point conversion and got it, taking an 8-0 lead three minutes into the game.

Lawrence started with some quick passes to Ethan Curry and picked up a first down, but a botched pitch on first-and-10 resulted in a fumble that the Trailblazers fell on. The Lions held them without a first down on the drive and started their second drive of the night at their own 11-yard line.

The Lions stuck to the quick passing game, which included a 38-yard screen pass to Truth Pope. Dooley hit Curry on a 20-yard post to get the Lions inside the 5-yard line, and Curry finished the drive with a touchdown run. The Lions went for the 2-point conversion after the Trailblazers were called for a penalty, but Dooley’s pass was batted down.

The Trailblazers drove down the field and got into the red zone on some big runs, but the Lawrence defense tightened up when it mattered. As Gardner Edgerton had a fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line, linebacker Luke Kress burst through the Trailblazer offensive line and tackled Gardner Edgerton quarterback Carson McCall at the line of scrimmage for a turnover on downs.

Lawrence started the drive deep in its own territory, but running back Kayden Pitts gave the Lions some breathing room with two runs for 11 yards. The Lions got a chunk play as Dooley hit senior receiver Caleb Wingerd on a 27-yard pass, and the Lions got an extra 15 yards on the play as a Gardner Edgerton defender grabbed Pope’s facemask.

A 15-yard pass to Curry and a couple of runs from Pitts get the Lions near the red zone. Sophomore running back Acein Goodman ran a streak from the backfield and was wide open in the middle of the field for a 23-yard touchdown catch, giving Lawrence a 12-8 lead after the PAT attempt failed.

The Trailblazers drove down the field once again with the run game, but Lawrence’s defense was stout in the red zone. The Lions got big tackles for loss from linebacker Saylor Jackson and Pope. They forced the Trailblazers into a fourth-and-goal from the 6-yard line with under five seconds left, where Pope batted a pass in the air and Wingerd grabbed for an interception to close the half.

The Lions held the Trailblazers to one touchdown on three red zone trips in the first half, an impressive showing that Thoren said was in large part due to the Lawrence defensive line.

“I love our D-line,” Thoren said. “That’s our D-line shoving back, backers fitting in… We let them loose a few times, but overall tonight I thought we tackled pretty well, and that’s tough to do against that option stuff.”

Lawrence started the second half with a slow, methodical offensive attack. After mostly moving the ball through the air in the first half, the Lions stuck to the ground game more to start the third quarter. The Lions used up nearly eight minutes on the drive and finished it with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Dooley to Pope, which gave the Lions a 19-8 lead.

“That was good for them to see to be able to do that,” Thoren said of the commanding drive. “That’s a good front. That’s probably about as good of a D-line as you’re going to see.”

Gardner Edgerton quickly responded and drove down the field for a touchdown drive, the Trailblazers’ first since the opening drive. The failed 2-point attempt kept the Lions ahead at 19-14 late in the third quarter.

Lawrence had to punt for the first time in the following drive, and Gardner Edgerton followed that up with a 72-yard touchdown run to take the lead at 22-19 in the final quarter.

Facing a deficit for the first time since the first quarter, the Lions went back to what was working: Dooley through the air. He hit Curry on a deep post, who weaved through the defense to score a 62-yard touchdown, giving Lawrence a 4-point lead.

It was an efficient night for Dooley, who finished 20-for-23 for 259 yards and three touchdowns to no turnovers. Dooley operated the offense well, but Thoren was pleased with how the entire offense performed around Dooley.

“Joey did a great job, the O-line did a great job in front of him,” Thoren said. “Our receivers did a great job — those guys caught the ball and really made plays. It was a good job all the way around.”

Gardner Edgerton started to drive downfield with Mulwa, but a wild snap on first-and-10 at the LHS 30 lost the Trailblazers nine yards. Two incomplete passes set up a fourth-and-19, which led to a punt from McCall.

Backed up deep in their own territory, Lawrence didn’t get too far before a fumble gave the Trailblazers the ball back. Gardner Edgerton proceeded to score a touchdown but failed on the two-point attempt after Kress made a tackle for loss, keeping Gardner Edgerton’s lead to only 2 points.

Lawrence drove down the field with scrambles from Dooley, but after a big tackle forced the Lions to spike the ball with 6.3 seconds left, Lawrence brought out the field goal unit for a 54-yard attempt that was ultimately blocked.

“We’re probably down a little bit right now,” Thoren said. “These guys have worked hard. They want to win. We’re a good football team, and that’s got to be what they understand. There will be mistakes, but I couldn’t be more proud of how we played. That was real football tonight.”

Lawrence will travel to Junction City on Friday to face the Blue Jays at 7 p.m.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

The Lawrence High football team huddles up during a break in play at Gardner Edgerton on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026 in Gardner.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High sophomore Acein Goodman makes a catch for a touchdown at Gardner Edgerton on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026 in Gardner.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High sophomore Acein Goodman gets past a defender for a touchdown at Gardner Edgerton on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026 in Gardner.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High sophomore Acein Goodman celebrates with senior Aaden Chee after scoring a touchdown at Gardner Edgerton on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026 in Gardner.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High junior Truth Pope celebrates a goal-line stop on fourth down at Gardner Edgerton on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026 in Gardner.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High head coach Jason Thorn yells out instructions at Gardner Edgerton on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026 in Gardner.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High junior Luke Kress celebrates a tackle for a loss at Gardner Edgerton on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026 in Gardner.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Fans watch on during the Lawrence High football game at Gardner Edgerton on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026 in Gardner.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

The Lawrence High defense makes a goal-line stop on fourth down at Gardner Edgerton on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Gardner.