photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World photo

Lawrence High tailback Tyrell Reed runs the ball during the game against Shawnee Mission West on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022.

An electric first half from the Lawrence High football team cemented a 56-20 win over Shawnee Mission West in Friday’s regular-season finale on Senior Night at LHS.

Two early scores set the tone and LHS (5-3) rolled to 328 yards of total offense against the Vikings. LHS coach Clint Bowen credited his seniors with leading the bounce-back effort this week after last week’s tough rivalry loss to Free State.

“We kind of went back to a fundamental check during the week,” Bowen said. “We went back to some first-day drills the entire week and started each practice with them. This game has to be played a certain way and when you don’t play it that way, success doesn’t come.

“I’m extremely happy for our senior class tonight. These kids put a lot into it. I couldn’t ask more of a senior class and these kids are happy that we could send them off with a win.”

After receiving the opening kickoff, LHS marched down the field and scored on its first drive of the game when senior running back Tyrell Reed took a red zone handoff 10 yards for the score. The Lions added a short-yardage touchdown from running back Brayden Heck to its early lead on the next drive, capitalizing on a 40-yard run by Heck earlier in the drive.

SM West answered the fast LHS start with a short-yardage touchdown run by sophomore running back Tyler Sieger. A 66-yard connection from Vikings junior quarterback Jon Rehder to junior receiver Chris Wade set up the goal-line score.

The Lions added two more scores late in the first quarter on a 12-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Tyson Grammer to senior receiver Cole Watson and a 35-yard rushing touchdown to close out the first quarter by sophomore quarterback Banks Bowen. Bowen’s run gave LHS a 28-7 lead and the Lions were off and running.

The Vikings (0-8) couldn’t put a dent in the LHS defense, racking up just 98 first-half yards. LHS, on the other hand, added to the rout with three consecutive scoring drives in the second quarter that included Grammer’s third touchdown pass of the night and Bowen’s second ground score.

LHS senior defensive end Lance Bassett said the defense wanted to come out and show it’s still got some passion and production left in the tank.

“We’re just trying to show that we still have that fight in us,” Bassett said. “We’re not just going to lay down for anyone. We’re a different team, but we’ve got to come out with the same mentality as we always have at Lawrence High.”

LHS junior cornerback Tony Jacobsen picked off Rehder late in the second quarter and took the interception 12 yards for another Lions touchdown, putting LHS up 56-7 at the halftime break.

SM West opened the second half with its most progressive drive of the night, working up to the LHS 34-yard line behind a series of touches from Rehder. But a fourth-down stop led by LHS safety Gabe Wingerd stalled the drive at the LHS 10-yard line midway through the third quarter.

The Vikings had more luck on their next possession which resulted in a goal-line touchdown rush by sophomore running back My’Shon Mitchell. A running clock carried the game into the fourth quarter, and SM West tacked on another score late on a 52-yard punt return by sophomore returner Brandon Wilson to cut the LHS lead to 56-20 with 3:21 left to go.

By that time, though, the Lions were well on their way to celebrating the Senior Night win that gave the Lions a strong dose of momentum heading into the postseason. Even after a fun win in the regular-season finale, senior linebacker Kenton Simmons said the Lions were ready to lock in on what’s next.

“It’s a brand new season,” Simmons said. “That’s what we’re already thinking about. That’s how we’re going into it. Anywhere we go, any person we play, we feel like we can make a run.”

GAME STATS:

Lawrence High 28 28 0 0 – 56

Shawnee Mission West 7 0 0 13 – 20

HOW THEY SCORED:

1Q:

10:18 – LHS touchdown: Reed 10 run. Kirk kick is good. (LHS 7, SM West 0)

5:53 – LHS touchdown: Heck 3 run. Kirk kick is good. (LHS 14, SM West 0)

3:42 – SM West touchdown: Sieger 4 run. Dahlstrom kick is good. (LHS 14, SM West 7)

2:59 – LHS touchdown: Watson 12 pass from Grammer. Kirk kick is good. (LHS 21, SM West 7)

0:25 – LHS touchdown: Bowen 35 run. Kirk kick is good. (LHS 28, SM West 7)

2Q:

10:58 – LHS touchdown: Sedo 32 pass from Grammer. Kirk kick is good. (LHS 35, SM West 7)

7:58 – LHS touchdown: Bowen 16 run. Kirk kick is good. (LHS 42, SM West 7)

4:41 – LHS touchdown: Ostronic 10 pass from Grammer. Kirk kick is good. (LHS 49, SM West 7)

4:22 – LHS touchdown: Jacobsen 12 interception. Kirk kick is good. (LHS 56, SM West 7)

4Q:

9:21 – SM West touchdown: Mitchell 1 run. Dahlstrom kick is no good. (LHS 56, SM West 13)

3:21 – SM West touchdown: Wilson 52 return. Dahlstrom kick is good. (LHS 56, SM West 20)

LHS | SM West

First downs 8 | 6

Rushing yards 191 | 100

Passing yards 137 | 80

Total-offense 328 | 180

Fumbles-lost 0 | 0

Interceptions 0 | 1

Penalty yards 10 | 10

INDIVIDUAL STATS:

Passing: LHS – Tyson Grammer 7-8, 131, Banks Bowen 1-3, 6; SM West – Jon Rehder 3-12, 80.

Rushing: LHS – Tyrell Reed 4-36, Brayden Heck 4-57, Evan Murray 7-14, Dominic Ostronic 1-11; SM West – Tyler Sieger 13-76, My’Shon Mitchell 1-1.

Receiving: LHS – Tyrell Reed 2-53, Sam Sedo 2-51, Cole Watson 2-17, Jaydon Brittingham 1-6; Cole Watson 1-29; SM West – Chris Wade 1-66, Victor Gunion 1-8, Davis Robinson 1-6.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World photo

Lawrence High wide receiver Dominic Ostronic looks to the sidelines during the game against Shawnee Mission West on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World photo

Lawrence High tight end Cole Watson (8) and offensive tackle Will Hendricks (74) look to the sidelines during the game against Shawnee Mission West on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World photo

Lawrence High wide receiver Domonic Ostronic recovers after a tackle during the game against Shawnee Mission West on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World photo

Lawrence High wide receiver Dominic Ostronic runs upfield during the game against Shawnee Mission West on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World photo

Lawrence High quarterback Banks Bowen looks for a hole in the line during the game against Shawnee Mission West on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022.