photo by: Chance Parker/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence junior tight end Cole Watson breaks up field against Olathe North Friday, Oct. 15, 2021.

For years, high school football success was built on talented two-way players giving everything they had for their teams and towns on Friday nights.

Star running backs were also hard-hitting linebackers. Starting quarterbacks started in the secondary. Linemen who made their living in the trenches spent half of their time protecting their quarterback and the other half trying to clobber the opponent’s.

Today, the game has largely gone away from that, with most players at most high schools playing either offense or defense.

However, at Lawrence High, the Lions (9-2) have two players who have been a huge part of the team’s run to the Class 6A state semifinals and a monster part of the LHS defense that has helped them get there.

Juniors Cole Watson and Lance Bassett are throwback-type gladiators who love to muck it up on both sides of the ball.

And their services will be needed big time Friday night at Derby, where the sixth-seeded Lions will take on top-seeded Derby (10-0) on Friday night.

“They’ve both put in a lot of extra time to make sure they’re ready on both sides of the ball,” said first-year LHS coach Clint Bowen. “And they’ve been a huge part of our success.”

Bassett and Watson both play tight end on offense, but their roles there are different.

The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Watson is more of a playmaker who gets down the field and provides quarterback Truman Juelsgaard with another receiving option.

Bassett stands a touch taller and a few pounds heavier and is known more for his ability as a blocker. That’s not to say he couldn’t be a weapon as a receiver if asked.

“It’s always cool getting to run routes together,” Watson said of the Lions’ “12” personnel, which puts both players on the field at the same time. “But sometimes I feel bad, with him blocking and me getting to run routes. But he’s great with the ball. If he gets the ball, he can break a couple tackles and get loose.”

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World Photo

Lawrence junior Lance Bassett celebrates with his coach during the regional playoff game against Junction City. Lawrence won at Junction City 38-21 on Friday, Nov. 6, 2021.

Last season, as a sophomore at Piper High School, Bassett played on the Pirates offensive line. Watson was also an O-lineman a year ago. Both said they were happier in their new roles, which takes better advantage of their athleticism. But the truth of the matter is, either player would play wherever — and whenever — Bowen asked them to play.

“It’s just about knowing what’s best for the team,” Bassett said of playing both ways. “If I need to be on both sides for us to be better as a team, I’ll do that.”

Added Watson: “You just have to take what you can get at all times and do your job no matter what. If they ask me to go out there, I will.”

Although Watson was at LHS last year and Bassett is new to the school, both are new to LHS’s varsity roster. Watson played a few snaps in last year’s playoff loss to Derby, but he said this season — and this team — have given him a much better appreciation for what Lawrence High’s football mystique is all about.

Both pointed to the team’s chemistry as one of the biggest reasons for the Lions’ deep playoff run, and both said they were thankful the coaches had confidence in them to put them in such important roles.

“I’m starting to kind of see what it’s like being a Chesty Lion, playing in the playoffs,” Watson said. “It’s crazy to me, though. I’ve never played this much football in my life. We came together, we’ve got great chemistry and we’re just on a roll.”

While Watson said he was fond of playing both tight end and defensive end, Bassett was more direct with his assessment of the two positions.

“I like defense better,” he said. “I’m not going to lie. I like hitting people. There’s just something about defense that gets you excited. It’s a different mentality.”

Both players said this week that bringing a physical mindset and extreme focus to Friday’s game against the three-time defending state champs would be crucial if the Lions hope to advance to their first state title game since 1995. They also said believing they can win will be a huge part of the equation, as well.

To that end, Bowen borrowed a trick from former Kansas football coach Mark Mangino during this week’s practices.

Years ago, when the Jayhawks were trying to snap a long losing streak to in-state rival Kansas State, Mangino blared the sounds of Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It’ over the speakers at practice all week.

The Jayhawks won that game, and Bowen has used the same song at the Lions’ practices this week, hoping for a similar result on Friday night.

Asked to share their favorite moments of the 2021 season thus far, Watson, who also plays basketball, spoke of the team’s tight bond.

“I just love being with these guys so much,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve ever been with a team like this. It feels like a genuine family and everyone’s got everyone else’s back.”

Bassett was a little more mysterious with his answer.

“I don’t really have one,” he said. “But I’m ready to go make one.”

Friday’s kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. at Panther Stadium in Derby.

Semifinal Send-Off

Lawrence High football supporters have organized a send-off for the team on Friday afternoon along 21st Street.

Fans are encouraged to arrive around 1 p.m., bringing posters, friends, family members and all the school spirit they can muster. Those in attendance will be asked to line the street from the LHS parking lot heading west, which will follow the route the LHS buses will take on their way to Derby.

The Lions are scheduled to depart at 1:30 p.m. Kickoff for the Class 6A state semifinal game between LHS and Derby is slated for 7 p.m.