photo by: Chance Parker, Journal-World Photo

Lawrence High senior Sam Sedo returns the ball against Shawnee Mission North on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022.

Overland Park — A dominant second-half performance by the Lawrence High football team led to a 44-14 rout of Shawnee Mission North on Friday night at Shawnee Mission District Stadium.

The Lions were up 17-7 at halftime, and a fumble by SM North quarterback Jacob Needham resulted in a quick momentum swing when LHS senior running back Tyrell Reed followed it up with a 25-yard rushing touchdown on the next series. From there, the Lions never looked back.

LHS (4-1) racked up 252 yards of total offense against the Bison, with 191 yards coming out of the backfield from senior running backs Reed and Brayden Heck. LHS coach Clint Bowen knew heading into Friday that he wanted to rely on his ground game, but the second-year coach didn’t expect the exposure it gave to the pocket.

“We weren’t protecting the quarterback very well in the passing game, but it was a conscious effort to get the tailbacks moving,” Bowen said. “There was some good production in that part of the game. We’re just not seeing the big picture, mostly on the offensive line. We’ve got to make sure we’re showing those kids the right looks and practicing the right thing. We’re going to get that fixed.”

Senior receiver Sam Sedo’s 41-yard opening kickoff set the right tone for the Lions and led to a 10-yard touchdown run by Reed moments later. SM North answered quickly, though, tying the score at 7 on its first play of the night — a 65-yard touchdown run from senior KeJuan Blake.

Sedo delivered another strong return after the LHS defense’s first stop of the night. But the ideal field position was squandered when SM North sophomore Moses Bortka picked off LHS junior quarterback Tyson Grammer in the end zone. A third-down sack and forced fumble led by LHS senior defensive end Jaydon Brittingham gave possession back to the Lions shortly before the second quarter began.

Moving to the Bison’s 7-yard line after the stop, LHS settled for a 23-yard field goal from senior kicker Noah Kirk with 5:25 left in the half. A big fourth-down tackle by junior cornerback Tony Jacobsen set up another LHS touchdown — a 4-yard run from Reed — with 2:41 left in the half.

SM North received the ball with 1:09 to go in the first half but could not move past its own 44-yard line before the halftime bell rang. Returning with possession to start the second half, the Bison fumbled just three plays after the kickoff, setting up the 25-yard touchdown run by Reed that signaled the beginning of the end for the Bison.

Of his fumble recovery, Brittingham said he saw an opportunity to shift the tide and went for it.

“I was coming in late and I saw the ball on the ground,” Brittingham said. “I didn’t think I had time to scoop and score, so I just dove on it.”

Midway through the third quarter, Reed added his fourth touchdown of the day on a 20-yard run that put the Lions up 30-7. The senior tacked on his fifth touchdown one drive later on an 8-yard goal-line carry to send LHS ahead 37-7 early in the fourth quarter.

The Bison got a shot in the arm on a 75-yard kickoff return from sophomore receiver Jeremiah Looney after the score with 8:42 left on the clock. But it wouldn’t be enough to slow down the LHS offense, which scored shortly after, on a 7-yard touchdown run from Heck, with just 4:12 remaining to seal the win.

Alongside Heck, Reed had a big day on the ground — 114 rushing yards and five touchdowns — and fueled LHS throughout the second half. Reed credited Bowen’s weekly expectations for preparing the Lions for Friday night’s road test.

“We start in the weight room early, every morning,” Reed said. “That definitely helps things. Once we get to practice, everybody starts going hard. Most teams don’t have a coach like Coach Bowen, who’s that involved with the routine.”

The Lions now have won four in a row after dropping the season opener. They’ll try to make it five straight next week in another road test at Gardner-Edgerton.

GAME STATS:

Lawrence High 7 10 13 14 – 44

SM North 7 0 0 7 – 14

HOW THEY SCORED:

1Q:

10:47 – LHS touchdown: Tyrell Reed 10 run. Kirk kick is good. (LHS 7, SM North 0)

10:37 – SM North touchdown: Blake 65 run. Lor kick is good. (LHS 7, SM North 7)

2Q:

5:25 – LHS field goal: Kirk 23 kick is good. (LHS 10, SM North 7)

2:41 – LHS touchdown: Reed 4 run. Kirk kick is good. (LHS 17, SM North 7)

3Q:

11:06 – LHS touchdown: Reed 25 run. Kirk kick is good. (LHS 24, SM North 7)

6:01 – LHS touchdown: Reed 20 run. Kirk kick is no good. (LHS 30, SM North 7)

4Q:

8:54 – LHS touchdown: Reed 8 run. Kirk kick is good. (LHS 37, SM North 7)

8:42 – SM North touchdown: Looney 75 return. Lor kick is good. (LHS 37, SM North 14)

4:12 – LHS touchdown: Heck 7 run. Kirk kick is good. (LHS 44, SM North 14)

LHS | SM North

First downs 11 | 4

Rushing yards 199 | 159

Passing yards 53 | 0

Total-offense 252 | 159

Fumbles-lost 0 | 1

Interceptions 1 | 0

Penalty yards 5 | 20

INDIVIDUAL STATS:

Passing: LHS – Tyson Grammer 4-10-53; SM North – Jacob Needham 0-4-0.

Rushing: LHS – Tyrell Reed 12-114, Brayden Heck 11-81, Noah Richardson 3-8; SM North – Kejuan Blake 11-90, Trey Dyer 9-38, Jeremiah Looney 5-33.

Receiving: LHS – Mason Mosiman 2-27, Dominic Ostronic 1-11, Sam Sedo 1-15.

photo by: Chance Parker, Journal-World Photo

Lawrence High junior defensive tackle Kem Allen lines up against Shawnee Mission North on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022.

photo by: Chance Parker, Journal-World Photo

Lawrence High senior running back Tyrell Reed runs the ball against Shawnee Mission North on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022.

Lawrence High coach Clint Bowen observes his team against Shawnee Mission North on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022.

photo by: Chance Parker, Journal-World Photo

Lawrence High senior kicker Noah Kirk (7) celebrates after drilling a field goal against Shawnee Mission North on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022.