photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence senior Ethan Curry runs for a first down in a road game against Junction City on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Junction City. Despite early penalties, the Lions scored 24 first-half points, three more than Lawrence and Junction City scored in last year's 14-7 Junction City win in Lawrence. Junior receiver Truth Pope scored two of the Lawrence touchdowns and senior running back Kayden Pitts scored the other.

JUNCTION CITY — Lawrence football got its first win of the season on Friday in a 31-7 road victory over Junction City.

“That felt great,” senior linebacker Will Grimes said. “We’ve worked so hard all year… we had a rough year last year, but all that hard work the last two years is starting to pay off.”

The Lions outplayed the Blue Jays with physicality, particularly on defense. After throwing the ball a lot in Week 1, the Blue Jays stuck to the ground game, but Lawrence’s defense held strong, relinquishing only one scoring drive.

“We were extremely physical tonight, at least early, so I was very pleased with that,” Lawrence coach Jason Thoren said. “We had some alignment issues, but we’ll continue to keep cleaning that up.”

Lawrence started the game with the ball and quickly got into the red zone with a 22-yard pass from junior quarterback Joey Dooley to senior receiver Ethan Curry. After a couple of runs and incomplete passes, the Lions settled for the field goal to take a 3-0 lead in the first five minutes of the game.

The Lawrence defense held stout for the opening quarter, only allowing a few first downs across three drives, including a three-and-out on the Blue Jays’ first drive, however, the Lions quickly gave the ball back on a three-and-out themselves.

Junction City picked up its first first down of the night on its second drive but fumbled on the following play, setting up the Lions in good field position. A big run by Curry set the Lions up in the red zone, but it wasn’t until fourth-and-goal that the Lions punched it in with a speed option pitch to senior running back Kayden Pitts.

The touchdown already put Lawrence over its scoring output from last year’s match against Junction City, in which the Lions lost 14-7 at home.

Lawrence had another dominant defensive drive and forced a punt, but the Lions gave the ball right back after Dooley threw his first interception of the season. Junction City didn’t make much of the turnover, and senior safety Caleb Wingerd forced a turnover of his own to get the ball back in the hands of the Lions.

Wingerd said the defensive line sets the tone for the defense, but the physicality extends into the secondary.

“If I want someone to use one word to describe our defense, I want the word physicality,” Wingerd said. “I want us to be physical, one through 11.”

Dooley quickly made up for his turnover on the following drive, finding Curry open on a wheel route for a 32-yard gain to get to the 23-yard line before Truth Pope was open after a corner blitz on the right sideline for a 23-yard touchdown catch.

“It was supposed to be a run play, but I’ve been watching film all week,” Pope said. “I saw the corner blitz and I signaled Joey, and he trusted me and we got the touchdown.”

Thoren said he saw Pope grow a lot of confidence after last year’s boys basketball season, in which Pope had more of a role. Thoren saw Pope play without fear getting to the basket, and that confidence has continued through summer and into the fall.

“I’ve played with coach (Sean) Dooley in the summer, who is now the current (basketball) coach, and he got my confidence up,” Pope said. “You can tell all the work paid off. It continues to improve. I got stronger in the weight room, I got faster, so my confidence is growing every season.”

The Blue Jays answered with a touchdown on a run-heavy drive midway through the second quarter. Lawrence responded even quicker, after a 32-yard catch on a wheel route by Curry set up Lawrence at the 32-yard line. Pope took it the rest of the way, breaking a tackle immediately after the catch and running the rest of the way for the score.

Junction City moved the ball in the final two minutes but ran out of time at the 22-yard line, giving Lawrence a 24-7 lead at the break.

The Blue Jays kept the ball on the ground coming out of halftime but stalled out at the Lawrence 22-yard line. The Lions didn’t get far on their own opening drive of the half, but a punt to the 1-yard line backed Junction City up deep. A quick three-and-out as the third quarter ended gave Lawrence the ball with solid field position.

The Lions quickly got the ball in the red zone with a 28-yard run by sophomore running back Acein Goodman. He finished the drive two plays later with a 4-yard rushing touchdown.

It was a heavy rotation for the running backs between Curry, Goodman and Pitts. Goodman toted the ball the most with 48 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown, while Pitts carried the ball five times for 44 yards and a score. Curry had 51 yards on the ground on five carries while also having 54 yards on two receptions.

What helped the offense were explosive plays. There were seven plays of 20 or more yards for the Lions, three on the ground and four through the air.

“We’re versatile,” said Pope, who finished with four catches for 69 yards. “We can beat you on the left side, we can beat you on the right side, we can beat you on the back. We just trust each other, and it clicks.”

The Blue Jays didn’t get far on the following drive and punted with under six minutes left. The Lions burned some time before a turnover on downs gave Junction City the ball with 1:40 left. The Blue Jays played through the final whistle, getting the ball in the red zone, but Lawrence kept them from scoring before time expired, solidifying the win.

“I’m glad to get back in the win column with the team,” Pope said. “We’ve been working all summer for this. I’m glad to get this first win down, but this isn’t all we want. We have to keep going and continue to win.”

Lawrence will host Shawnee Mission East for the first home game of the season on Friday at 7 p.m.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence junior quarterback Joey Dooley waits for the snap in a road game against Junction City on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Junction City.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence center Hudsen Myers and prepares to snap the ball in a road game against Junction City on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Junction City.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence senior cornerback Adrick Webb backpedals in a road game against Junction City on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Junction City.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence junior linebacker KJ Turner watches the handoff in a road game against Junction City on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Junction City.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence junior linebacker Mason McClure rushes the passer in a road game against Junction City on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Junction City.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence senior Saylor Jackson watches the snap in a road game against Junction City on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Junction City.