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

Lawrence High wide receiver Dominic Ostronic hauls in a pass during the Lions' road playoff game at Derby on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022.

Derby — An early hole dug by the Lawrence football team was too much to overcome in Friday night’s state regional matchup against Derby. The Lions (6-4) fell 76-28 on the road, marking the third consecutive postseason loss to the Panthers after a late-season turnaround by LHS.

The Lions managed 269 yards of total offense, including 201 on the ground. Trailing 55-22 at the break, LHS couldn’t swing back in the second half after coughing up possession on its first drive of the third quarter.

LHS coach Clint Bowen, who’s faced Derby twice now with the Lions, knew this matchup came down to controlling the tempo.

“This was going to be a game that we were going to get punched,” Bowen said. “They’re going to fight. They’re a good team and they came out and hit us in the mouth. Initially, we didn’t stop the charge but then we had a little bit of a fight there for a little bit but, in the end, we just couldn’t match their speed of execution.”

It only took six plays for the Panthers to mount a three-score lead on the Lions by the 7:38 mark.

Derby senior running back Dylan Edwards stacked four consecutive touchdown rushes seven minutes into the ball game, taking advantage of two first-quarter fumbles by LHS. Senior Tyrell Reed broke LHS’ silence with a 3-yard touchdown run to cut its deficit down to 27-8 with under a minute left in the first quarter.

Led by seniors Kenton Simmons and Lance Bassett, the LHS defense earned its first stop of the game in the early minutes of the second quarter. Sam Sedo returned Derby’s first punt of the game for a 75-yard touchdown to bring the Lions within two scores.

Sedo credited his yearlong work with special teams for setting up the big play.

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

Lawrence High’s Sam Sedo sprints upfield during the Lions’ playoff game at Derby on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022.

“That’s on my blockers – they didn’t give up on the punts the whole season,” Sedo said. “They always kept up with the blocks. I love all my guys, all the people I played with this year. They’re family to me.”

Edwards’ 217 yards on the ground in the first half paved the way for a five-score Derby lead at halftime, even after Reed tried to kick the LHS offense back into gear with an 81-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter.

Derby mounted two more scores on LHS in the third quarter after Panthers sophomore defensive back Malachi Moore picked off Lions junior quarterback Tyson Grammer on the opening drive of the half. Sophomore quarterback Banks Bowen found the end zone late in the third quarter, squeezing over the goal line for an 18-yard touchdown run.

LHS, down 76-28 midway through the fourth quarter, fought its way up to the Panthers’ 18-yard line, but a pass from Bowen was intercepted in the endzone, the fifth Lions turnover of the night, by Derby defensive back Coree Spears to end the final Lions scoring try.

The loss ends the Lions’ season in its tracks, but senior offensive lineman Ronston McKinney knows that losses like these are just part of the game.

“Football is a tough program,” McKinney said. “There are times when you don’t want to continue but you keep going. This was a big game, it’s what we’ve been talking about this whole season. We kind of knew the whole season we’d be coming in here and playing, so it means a lot to come here and try to fulfill the legacy.”

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

Lawrence High wide receiver Dominic Ostronic hauls in a pass during the Lions’ road playoff game at Derby on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022.

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

Lawrence High QB Tyson Grammer waits for the snap from center Dylan Alvarado during the Lions’ playoff game at Derby on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022.

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

Lawrence High’s Banks Bowen drags a Derby tackler for extra yardage during the Lions’ playoff game at Derby on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022.

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

Lawrence High running back Tyrell Reed finds room to run during the Lions’ playoff game at Derby on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022.

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

Lawrence High running back Tyrell Reed charges ahead during the Lions’ playoff game at Derby on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022.

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

Lawrence High’s Sam Sedo (3) celebrates a touchdown with teammates during the Lions’ playoff game at Derby on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022.

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

The Lawrence High offensive line prepares for a play deep in Derby territory during the Lions’ road playoff game at Derby on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022.

GAME STATS:

Lawrence High 8 14 6 0 – 28

Derby 27 28 14 7 – 76

HOW THEY SCORED:

1Q:

10:07 – Derby touchdown: Edwards 31 run. Jesseph kick is good. (LHS 0, Derby 7)

9:49 – Derby touchdown: Edwards 9 run. Jesseph kick is no good. (LHS 0, Derby 13)

7:38 – Derby touchdown: Edwards 32 run. Jesseph kick is good. (LHS 0, Derby 20)

5:23 – Derby touchdown: Edwards 86 run. Jesseph kick is good. (LHS 0, Derby 27)

0:37 – LHS touchdown: Reed 3 run. 2-point conversion is good. (LHS 8, Derby 27)

2Q:

10:14 – LHS touchdown: Sedo 75 return. Kirk kick is no good. (LHS 14, Derby 27)

6:47 – Derby touchdown: Zerger 9 run. Jesseph kick is good. (LHS 14, Derby 34)

6:30 – LHS touchdown: Reed 81 run. 2-point conversion is good. (LHS 22, Derby 34)

6:20 – Derby touchdown: Edwards 51 run, Jesseph kick is good. (LHS 22, Derby 41)

5:20 – Derby touchdown: Edwards 55 pass from Zerger. Jesseph kick is good. (LHS 22, Derby 48)

1:24 – Derby touchdown: Keener 30 pass from Zerger. Jesseph kick is good. (LHS 22, Derby 55)

3Q:

10:05 – Derby touchdown: Edwards 4 run. Jesseph kick is good. (LHS 22, Derby 62)

6:39 – Derby touchdown: Edwards 58 run. Jesseph kick is good. (LHS 22, Derby 69)

2:30 – LHS touchdown: Bowen 18 run. Kirk kick is no no good. (LHS 28, Derby 69)

4Q:

9:45 – Derby touchdown: Hubbard 4 run. Jesseph kick is good. (LHS 28, Derby 76)

LHS | Derby

First downs 8 | 9

Rushing yards 201 | 401

Passing yards 68 | 132

Total offense 269 | 533

Fumbles-lost 2 | 0

Interceptions 3 | 0

INDIVIDUAL STATS:

Passing: LHS – Tyson Grammer 2-6, 40, Banks Bowen 1-3, 28; Derby – Brock Zerger 4-4, 132.

Rushing: LHS – Tyrell Reed 14-165, Banks Bowen 2-28, Brayden Heck 5-13, Tyson Grammer 2-5; Derby – Derek Hubbard 6-17, Dylan Edwards 15-313.

Receiving: LHS – Dominic Ostronic 2-40, Cole Watson 1-28; Derby – Dylan Edwards 2-77, Nathan Keener 1-30, Colton Ruedy 1-25.