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

LHS senior Dominic Ostronic hauls in a pass during the Lions' game against Olathe East on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022.

The Lawrence High football team rolled over visiting Olathe East, 47-6, in Friday night’s homecoming game at LHS.

The win was Lawrence High’s third in a row after dropping the season opener. Junior quarterback Tyson Grammer finished the night completing 17 of 21 passes for 278 yards for the Lions.

Ahead three scores at halftime, LHS (3-1) blew the game open early in the second half after back-to-back turnovers by the Hawks handed the Lions the keys for two easy touchdowns from running backs Tyrell Reed and Brayden Heck, who combined for 78 yards.

LHS coach Clint Bowen said his team came out with more urgency this week and set a proper tone in Friday’s wipeout of O-East.

“This game felt good from the beginning to the end,” Bowen said. “The kids looked like they were ready. They went out there, focused, and played well. I’m happy for our team.I think our team has hit a point with maturity and picked up an understanding of what the expectations in the program are.This is a grind and a process and they’re starting to appreciate that.”

After receiving the game’s opening kickoff, LHS marched down the field and scored first on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Grammer to senior wideout Dominic Ostronic. O-East threatened moments later, after reaching the Lions’ 22-yard line, but a failed fourth-down call gave the ball back to LHS with 3:00 to play in the quarter.

The Hawks (1-3) stopped the LHS offense on the next drive and forced a punt with 1:40 to play in the first quarter but wasted the effort with a three-and-out of their own.

LHS regained possession midway through the second quarter, looking to add to its lead heading into the locker room. That came when Grammer again connected with Ostronic for a 53-yard touchdown pass. LHS capped off the drive with a successful 2-point try that gave the Lions a 14-0 lead with 2:04 left in the first half.

A few moments later, junior tackles Nate Blettner and Kem Allen brought down O-East’s Jack Cornell for a fourth consecutive stop, setting up a third touchdown catch for Ostronic. This one was thrown by Mason Mosiman and it sent the Lions into the locker room at halftime with a 21-0 lead.

Ostronic recalled the creative play design from Bowen and credited Mosiman, a junior, with executing on time.

“(Mason) just threw a dime right to me,” Ostronic said. “That was a beautiful toss. Coach called it and Mason came up and made a great play.”

O-East fumbled on its 11-yard line a little over a minute into the third quarter, and LHS responded with a quick-strike 11-yard touchdown run by Reed. Just seconds later, Olathe East fumbled the kickoff, giving the Lions possession deep in Hawks territory. Heck made that one count with a 2-yard touchdown run that blew the game open.

Down 34-0 after a pair of turnovers, O-East held up the Lions’ offense at third-and-20 and appeared to have set up its first stop of the half. But Grammer had other plans, going deep for a 37-yard touchdown pass to senior Sam Sedo to put LHS ahead 41-0 with 4:31 to go in the third quarter.

A 7-yard touchdown run by Reed early in the fourth quarter inspired a running clock the rest of the way and the Lions cruised to the homecoming victory.

Olathe East found the end zone for the first time on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Cornell to Carter Gooding with 6:07 to go, but the late TD by the visitors did little to dampen the Lions’ spirits on a fabulous night for the home team on both sides of the ball.

Senior safety Josh King, who returned this season after an ACL injury last fall, feels the homecoming win represents the progress LHS is making behind the scenes.

“We prepared for them,” King said of O-East. “We knew they were a pretty good team. So, we prepared pretty hard and it definitely feels good. All the hard work is paying off. We had a really good week of practice and I think that’s what led to this.”

GAME STATS:

Olathe East 0 0 0 6 – 6

Lawrence High 6 15 20 6 – 47

HOW THEY SCORED:

1Q:

7:15 – LHS touchdown: Ostronic 26 pass from Grammer. Kirk kick is no good. (LHS 6, O-East 0)

2Q:

2:04 – LHS touchdown: Ostronic 53 pass from Grammer. A 2-point try is good. (LHS 14, O-East 0)

0:15 – LHS touchdown Ostronic 23 pass from Mosiman. Kirk kick is good. (LHS 21, O-East 0)

3Q:

10:37 – LHS touchdown: Reed 11 run. Kirk kick is good. (LHS 28, O-East 0)

9:41 – LHS touchdown: Heck 2 run. Kirk kick is no good. (LHS 34, O-East 0)

4:38 – LHS touchdown: Sedo 37 pass from Grammer. Kirk kick is good. (LHS 41, O-East 0)

4Q:

10:48 – LHS touchdown: Reed 7 run. Kirk kick is no good. (LHS 47, O-East 0)

6:07 – O-East touchdown: Gooding 13 pass from Cornell. Kick failed. (LHS 47, O-East 6)

O-East | LHS

First downs 6 | 10

Rushing yards 93 | 78

Passing yards 82 | 278

Total-offense 175 | 356

Fumbles-lost 2 | 0

Interceptions 0 | 0

Penalty yards 25 | 20

INDIVIDUAL STATS:

Passing: LHS – Tyson Grammer 17-21, 278, Mason Mosiman 1-23, 23; O-East – Jack Cornell 7-18, 82.

Rushing: LHS – Tyrell Reed 10-42, Brayden Heck 11-36; O-East – Jaden Proctor 11-32, Ray Smith III 3-42, Grant Pollak 1-20.

Receiving: LHS – Dominic Ostronic 4-110, Cole Watson 6-107, Sam Sedo 6-65, Brayden Heck 1-15, Tyrell Reed 1-5; O-East – Jaden Brown 3-30, Carter Gooding 2-23, Grant Pollak 1-27, 1-2.

photo by: Emma Pravecek, Journal-World photo

Lawrence High quarterback Tyson Grammer runs the ball during the game against Olathe East on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022.

photo by: Emma Pravecek, Journal-World photo

Lawrence High center Dylan Alvarado (77) and wide receiver Dominic Ostronic (13) celebrate after a touchdown during the Lions’ win over Olathe East on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022.

photo by: Emma Pravecek, Journal-World photo

Lawrence High quarterback Tyson Grammer takes the shotgun snap during the Lions’ game against Olathe East on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022.

photo by: Emma Pravecek, Journal-World photo

Lawrence High tailback Tyrell Reed takes a handoff from LHS QB Tyson Grammer during the Lions’ win over Olathe East on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022.

Lawrence High quarterback Tyson Grammer catches the ball during the game against Olathe East on Friday, Sept. 23.

Lawrence High tailback Tyrell Reed looks to the sidelines during the game against Olathe East on Friday, Sept. 23.

photo by: Emma Pravecek, Journal-World photo

Lawrence High coach Clint Bowen signals a play during the game against Olathe East on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022.

photo by: Emma Pravecek, Journal-World photo

Lawrence High tailback Tyrell Reed (1) and quarterback Tyson Grammer (15) look to the sidelines during the game against Olathe East on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022.

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

LHS center Dylan Alvarado prepares to snap the ball during the Lions’ game against Olathe East on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022.

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

LHS seniors Noah Kirk (7), Jaydon Brittingham (33) and Brayden Heck (2) lead the rest of the Lions onto the field for their game against Olathe East on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022.

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

Senior tight end Cole Watson tries to get upfield during Lawrence High’s game against Olathe East on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022.

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

Lawrence High tailback Tyrell Reed (1) plows through three tacklers during the LHS game against Olathe East on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022.

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

LHS senior Kenton Simmons hangs on tight to drag down an Olathe East rusher during the Lions’ game against the Hawks on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022.

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

Lawrence High sophomore Banks Bowen reads the play in front of him during the Lions’ clash with Olathe East on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022.

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

LHS tight end Cole Watson tries to evade an Olathe East tackler during the Lions’ game against the Hawks on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022.

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

LHS quarterback Tyson Grammer waits for the snap during the Lions’ game against Olathe East on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022.