photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

The Lawrence High offensive and defensive fronts line up during the team's jamboree in Lawrence on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025.

The Lawrence football team got its first taste of playing under the lights on Thursday with a 60-minute jamboree at Lawrence in which the Lions’ offense and defense scrimmaged each other.

“There were good plays on both sides, there were bad plays on both sides,” coach Jason Thoren said. “I thought we tackled better than we would, especially this early. I think there was some good stuff tonight … I’m happy about it now, but I’ll have to watch (the jamboree’s film).”

Thoren said the night was important to give players a chance to feel the game-day atmosphere and play under the lights with a band and crowd.

“It feels good to be back out there in a competing mindset,” senior receiver Jaxon Becker said. “We definitely have a lot to work on, but we came out here to get the rust off and get ready to battle.”

Lawrence’s defense started strong with the first two drives, while the Lawrence offense started inside its own 5-yard line. Junior Colton Curry started at quarterback first, with sophomore Joey Dooley playing the second drive. On both drives, the Lions failed to gain a first down, with the defense swarming to tackle ball carriers.

Senior defensive lineman Devin Foster said it was good for the team to get used to the contact of the sport. In practice, the team usually doesn’t do full tackling, so the jamboree provided an early chance to get defenders used to tackling and offensive players used to being hit.

“We definitely don’t need to work on playing hard or physical, I think there’s just a few things we need to fine-tune,” Foster said.

Thoren said the team was winded at the start but finished well, with both sides of the ball playing faster.

“This is really the first test of going live and the first strain of going live,” Thoren said. “We sustained some drives, which was good.”

Dooley started the third drive at quarterback, with the offense starting at their own 35-yard line. The offense put together its first first downs of the game, and Dooley threw a 34-yard touchdown to Becker on a go route, hitting Becker in stride before the safety could make a play.

Sophomore Luke Kress got touches early and often at running back. Kress picked up a first down after a block-and-release play from the backfield.

Curry quarterbacked the fourth drive, and also found a rhythm passing. Senior running back Tahj Edwards got the drive off the ground with a first down running the ball, and Curry picked the next two first downs up through the air.

The drive stalled around the 33-yard line, and a fourth-down pass to an inside slant was dropped, turning the ball over on downs.

Lawrence’s defense did well in forcing the offense to utilize all four downs on multiple occasions and was stingy in run defense for the majority of the scrimmage.

Curry stayed behind center for the fifth and sixth drives, the former of which started at the 35-yard line. Curry got a first down throwing a 20-yard pass to senior receiver Turner Juelsgaard, which was brought back. On the next play, Curry threw to junior receiver Aaden Chee in the middle of the field, and he ran the ball the last 40 yards into the end zone.

The LHS offense ran through Edwards at running back for the sixth drive. He picked up the initial first down on a reception from the backfield and picked up two more running hard through defenders. The defense made its stand on an interception from sophomore defensive back Anthony Luna near the goal line.

Dooley came back out at quarterback for a drive that started at the defense’s 40-yard line. He showed his speed early in the series when forced to roll out to his left and ran for a 4-yard gain. The offense started the drive again at the 44-yard line, and the duo of Edwards and Dooley ran the ball for first downs before the LHS defense stopped two runs for losses, leading to the offense bringing out the field goal unit.

Dooley again quarterbacked the next drive, which started inside the red zone but was immediately brought out of the red zone with an offensive penalty. Dooley and senior receiver Khyree McGee almost connected on a 23-yard touchdown, but McGee couldn’t come down with the ball. The two linked up on the next play with McGee running a dig route that brought up a fourth-and-2. Edwards’s carry didn’t reach the line to gain, causing a turnover on downs. Still, Thoren brought out the field goal unit for a 20-yard attempt from senior kicker Trevon Creager, which was successful.

Curry led the offense for the final drive, also from the red zone. On the third play, Curry threw a fade to Becker for a touchdown.

Becker and the offense had successful scoring drives with both quarterbacks.

“The connection keeps growing and growing,” Becker said. “I trust both quarterbacks to throw me the ball, and I know the other receivers trust the quarterbacks. The whole receiving corps is going to make plays this year.”

The Lions start the season on the road at the College Boulevard Activity Center in Olathe against Olathe West at 7 p.m. on Sept. 5.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence’s Joey Lucas is pictured at the team’s jamboree in Lawrence on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence’s Alex Bart tackles teammate Luke Kress at the jamboree on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High’s Marco Schmidt makes a pass during the team’s jamboree in Lawrence on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence offensive lineman Kalon Sales (65) blocks sophomore Alex Kite during the jamboree on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence’s Joey Dooley looks to make a pass during the team’s jamboree in Lawrence on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence’s Joey Dooley looks for a teammate during the team’s jamboree in Lawrence on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence’s Joey Dooley runs toward the end zone during the team’s jamboree in Lawrence on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence’s Joey Dooley runs toward the end zone during the team’s jamboree in Lawrence on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence’s Trevon Creager kicks a field goal during the team’s jamboree in Lawrence on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence’s Luke Kress looks for a hole during the team’s jamboree in Lawrence on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence’s Luke Kress runs through defenders at the team’s jamboree on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence’s Tahj Edwards runs past LHS defenders during the team’s jamboree in Lawrence on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence’s Colton Curry throws the ball to a teammate during the team’s jamboree in Lawrence on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence’s Tahj Edwards runs toward the end zone during the team’s jamboree in Lawrence on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

The Lawrence line awaits a snap during the team’s jamboree in Lawrence on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High huddles during the team’s jamboree in Lawrence on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High’s Jaxon Becker runs a route during the team’s jamboree in Lawrence on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High defensive lineman Drake Miracle makes a tackle during the jamboree in Lawrence on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High quarterback Colton Curry calls a play before receiving the snap during the team’s jamboree in Lawrence on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025.