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

Lawrence High's Tony Jacobsen receives contact from Shawnee Mission West's Chris Wade during the game in Overland Park on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.

Overland Park – Running up its lead early, the Lawrence High football team rolled Shawnee Mission West 56-3 on the road in Friday’s regular-season finale.

Racing to a four-score lead by halftime, the Chesty Lions (6-2) overwhelmed the Vikings (0-8) through the air through all phases of the night for a second consecutive victory headed into the Class 6A playoff slated to begin next Friday.

Led by junior quarterback Banks Bowen (14 of 22, 251), LHS racked up 557 yards of total offense, including three rushing touchdowns by the starting QB. Senior tailback Tony Jacobsen also fueled the Lions’ fire with 104 yards on nine carries.

Coming off the bench, junior backup quarterback Turner Juelsgaard earned late reps, flashing his speed on a 32-yard touchdown scamper that closed the book on the Lions’ 53-point win. In addition to Juelsgaard’s cameo, senior tackle Cam Clark made a strong appearance with a sack and several tackles on defense.

“We wanted to play everyone on the bench,” Clint Bowen said. “That’s important to our program and always a positive.”

The ballgame didn’t start fast, though, with LHS placekicker Andrei Lefort missing a 30-yard field goal attempt on the opening drive. Making the stop, the Lions took a quick one-score lead on an 11-yard touchdown run by Bowen on their second drive.

Forcing another three-and-out, LHS’ special teams coughed up possession when senior safety Zander Thomas couldn’t reel a punt and SM West’s junior defensive back Davis Robinson scooped up the football near the Lions’ 30-yard line.

Unable to capitalize on the turnover, the Vikings were victims of three more unanswered scores – a 39-yard touchdown pass from Bowen to senior tailback Malcolm Paul; another short-yardage Bowen touchdown run; and a 34-yard touchdown pass from Bowen to senior receiver Mason Mosiman – heading into halftime trailing LHS 28-0.

In the second half, SM West – rotating starting quarterback John Rehder with junior backup QB Steven King throughout the first half – never seemed to find a rhythm through the air or on the ground. Sticking with junior My’Shon Mitchell and senior Noah Gunion in the backfield, neither running back could pick up the slack.

Meanwhile, LHS kept firing on all cylinders. Bowen raced 42 yards into the end zone to send the visitors up 35-0 midway through the third quarter, finding sophomore wideout Jaxon Becker for a 31-yard touchdown strike on the Lions’ next drive.

In the fourth, SM West joined the scoreboard with a 20-yard field goal by senior placekicker Justin Dahlstrom mere seconds into the final quarter.

Still, LHS kept its foot on the gas. Paul, finishing the night with 45 yards on just five carries, fought his way into the end zone for a nine-yard touchdown run with 11:10 still to go in the fourth quarter. Juelsgaard got in on the action late, adding his rushing TD just before the clock gave out.

After the game, Bowen said his group came into Friday’s game ready to test its full arsenal ahead of a – likely at-home – first round playoff matchup next week.

“I challenged the kids all week just to be mature enough to come out and handle a game against an 0-7 team that you’re supposed to handle,” Clint Bowen said. “We focused on playing a clean game, which I thought we really did.”

GAME STATS:

Lawrence 21 7 14 14 – 56

SM West 0 0 0 3 – 3

LHS | SMW

First downs 11 | 14

Rushes-yards 306 | 135

Passing yards 251 | 116

Total offense 557 | 251

Fumbles-lost 1 | 0

Interceptions 0 | 2

Penalties-yards 4-40 | 4-25

HOW THEY SCORED:

6:13 – LHS touchdown: Bowen 11 run. Lefort kick is good. (LHS 7, SM West 0)

2:20 – LHS touchdown: Bowen 39 pass to Paul. Lefort kick is good. (LHS 14, SM West 0)

1:02 – LHS touchdown: Bowen 1 run. Lefort kick is good. (LHS 21, SM West 0)

2Q:

1:04 – LHS touchdown: Bowen 34 pass to Mosiman. Lefort kick is good. (LHS 28, SM West 0)

3Q:

7:50 – LHS touchdown: Bowen 42 run. Lefort kick is good. (LHS 35, SM West 0)

2:33 – LHS touchdown: Bowen 31 pass to Becker. Lefort kick is good. (LHS 42, SM West 0)

4Q:

11:56 – SMW field goal: Dahlstrom 20-yard kick. (LHS 42, SM West 3)

11:10 – LHS touchdown: Paul 9 run. Lefort kick is good. (LHS 49, SM West 3)

2:35 – LHS touchdown: Juelsgaard 32 run. Lefort kick is good. (LHS 56, SM West 3)

INDIVIDUAL STATS:

Rushing: LHS – Jacobsen 9-104; Edwards 6-56; Bowen 7-82; Paul 5-45; Juelsgaard 1-32; Murray 4-25; SMW – Mitchell 15-65; N. Gunion 8-36; #73 1-29; Blaylock 1-9; Noel 1-2.

Passing: SMW – Rehder 7-20, 104; 104; King 1-4, 12.

Receiving: SMW – Noel 2-60; V. Gunion 4-48; Blaylock 2-17; Robinson 1-3.

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

Lawrence High’s Jaylen Parks charges ahead during the game against Shawnee Mission West in Overland Park on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.

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

Lawrence High’s Jaylen Parks charges ahead during the game against Shawnee Mission West in Overland Park on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.

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

Lawrence High’s Jaylen Parks charges ahead during the game against Shawnee Mission West in Overland Park on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.

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

Lawrence High’s Andrei Lefort kicks the ball as Banks Bowen holds during the game against Shawnee Mission West in Overland Park on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.

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

Lawrence High’s Malcolm Paul and Mason Mosiman celebrate during the game against Shawnee Mission West in Overland Park on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.

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

Lawrence High’s Jaylen Parks carries the ball during the game against Shawnee Mission West in Overland Park on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.

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

The ball comes loose during the game between Lawrence High and Shawnee Mission West in Overland Park on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.

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

Lawrence High quarterback Banks Bowen signals for touchdown during the game against Shawnee Mission West in Overland Park on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.

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

Lawrence High linebacker Jayden Harrell dives to make a tackle on Shawnee Mission West’s My’Shon Mitchell during the game in Overland Park on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.

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

Lawrence High quarterback Banks Bowen takes a snap during the game against Shawnee Mission West in Overland Park on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.

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

Lawrence High quarterback Banks Bowen makes a pass during the game against Shawnee Mission West in Overland Park on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.

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

Lawrence High quarterback Banks Bowen makes a pass during the game against Shawnee Mission West in Overland Park on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.

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

Lawrence High coach Clint Bowen roams the sidelines at the game against Shawnee Mission West in Overland Park on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.

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

The Lawrence High football team runs onto the field before the game against Shawnee Mission West in Overland Park on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.