photo by: Landon Cory/Journal-World photo

Lawrence High quarterback Banks Bowen looks to pass during the game at the College Boulevard Activity Center Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023.

The Lawrence High football team is in for a tough test when Class 6A favorite Gardner Edgerton comes to town on Friday night. The Trailblazers, after being denied a state title at the hands of Manhattan last season, are on track for another title game appearance.

Both programs enter Week 6 fresh off hard-fought victories that tested their endurance.

At home, LHS (4-1) overcame multiple injuries to hold off a second-half push by Shawnee Mission North; GEHS (5-0) clung onto a one-score lead throughout most of the second half against undefeated Olathe North at home.

Even with a locker room full of midseason aches and pains, LHS head coach Clint Bowen said his team is remarkably healthy for this time of year. But after losing starting offensive tackle Will Hendricks in the second half of last week’s home win over SM North, the Lions’ offense still has some lingering questions to answer this week.

“You get an opportunity to do something that people doubt you can do,” Bowen said. “That’s always a great opportunity for any team. My kids have been pretty excited all week.”

Taming that high-powered flexbone offense begins with locking down junior quarterback Bravin Powell, who’s been at the heart of the Trailblazers’ offense all season long.

Powell has thrown for 701 yards and 10 touchdowns thus far this season, per MaxPreps; over 300 of those yards belong to senior wide receiver and defensive back Randy Singleton.

When he’s not mixing his arm into the run-heavy offense, Powell is a regular ballcarrier along with senior running backs Dylan Butash and Dawson Kindler.

Recalling Shawnee Mission East’s version of the flexbone offense, which depended on two tight ends and a fullback, Bowen said the Trailblazers’ brand is far less predictable.

“Gardner’s a lot more sophisticated with their (flexbone),” Bowen said. “They’re running a multitude of plays running all over the normal dive, running gap schemes out of it, they can throw the ball out of it, they’ve got a toss scheme – they’ve got the full gauntlet of what’s available with that offensive package.”

If LHS wants to hang with the big boys, its offense needs to be firing on all cylinders. Bowen said his offense, which has relied heavily on junior quarterback Banks Bowen’s dual-threat ability over the past few weeks, is continuing to develop toward his liking.

Bowen completed 12 of 21 attempts for 252 yards and three touchdowns through the air and added 94 more yards on the ground. As LHS continues to hammer the run, tailbacks Malcolm Paul and Tahj Edwards will be expected to continue sharing touches down the stretch – especially over the next two weeks.

Next week doesn’t get any easier for the Lions, either. LHS will challenge undefeated, crosstown rival Free State (5-0) on the Firebirds’ turf next Friday. Before that, though, Bowen and the Lions will look to knock off a red-hot Gardner Edgerton team.

Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. at LHS.