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

Lawrence High senior running back Tahj Edwards runs a route against Shawnee Mission Northwest at Shawnee Mission District Stadium, North Location, on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in Overland Park.

Overland Park — Penalties and turnovers stifled momentum in key moments of Lawrence football’s game against Shawnee Mission Northwest, as the Lions lost 26-7 on the road.

“We have been so good there… but that’s got to be fixed,” Lawrence coach Jason Thoren said of the negative plays. “When we don’t do that, we’re pretty tough to stop. We can march down the field, but if you put yourself behind the sticks, then this is what happens.”

The Lions started with a shot play to senior receiver Jaxon Becker, which fell incomplete on a low and inside throw from sophomore quarterback Joey Dooley. After a 5-yard run from senior running back Tahj Edwards, a third-down incompletion ended the Lions’ first drive.

The Cougars started in excellent field position for their first drive and stuck to the ground game for the entire 41 yards and the touchdown.

Despite giving up the rushing touchdown, the Lions were stouter than usual against the run, forcing multiple third downs and a fourth-and-short. The Cougars were able to convert when it mattered, though, and took the early lead.

“I thought we did a good job (against the run) — we had a good week of preparation for it,” Thoren said. “More than anything, we moved a couple of guys over who got their first snaps at it, and they did a really good job and got their feet wet in it.”

Lawrence started its next drive back at the 14-yard line but marched 86 yards and tied the game. The Lions gave the ball to Edwards early and often in the drive, and he helped them get near midfield with the aid of a facemask penalty. Dooley completed his first pass, a 14-yard throw to junior receiver Ethan Curry, to get the ball past midfield, and later hit Curry again for an 11-yard gain on third-and-8.

Dooley completed 10 of 17 passes for 149 yards in the game, while rushing for another 26 yards.

The Lions stuck to the run game to get into the red zone and were again aided by a penalty when the Cougars were called for an illegal contact with the helmet that put the Lions at the 5-yard line. Dooley ran the ball to the 1-yard line, and Edwards finished the drive with a run up the gut. Edwards finished with 105 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.

The run game offensively was a bright spot for Thoren, and he was pleased with how the offensive line blocked when they didn’t have a numbers advantage in the box.

“When it was tight in the box, we were still getting three, four yards a carry,” Thoren said. “We have a good O-line, and we have a good tailback. Those kids and good kids, and even when it looks like it’s not there, Tahj is getting three (yards). It’s just a matter of being more consistent.”

Shawnee Mission Northwest ran the ball much easier on its second drive and quickly marched downfield. Quarterback Trai Woodruff finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, giving the Cougars a 14-7 lead with five minutes left in the half.

The next two drives both ended in fumbles, one on each side. The Lions started at the 50-yard line, but a fumble from Dooley on a speed option gave the Cougars the ball at their 41-yard line. They then drove down to the red zone, where Woodruff fumbled at the Lawrence 5 with three minutes left.

Edwards took advantage of some light boxes and got Lawrence out of its own end zone. He had 52 yards on four runs to put the Lions at midfield. On his fourth run, the Cougars were called for a late hit, giving the Lions an untimed down at the SMNW 33-yard line. Dooley threw to the end zone, but the ball fell incomplete, leading to halftime with the Cougars up 14-7.

Shawnee Mission Northwest started with the ball for the second half, but Lawrence came up with the big plays. Two big stops up the middle set up a third-and-9, and junior defensive lineman Malachi Chrismon came up with the tackle at the line for no gain, forcing the Cougars to punt.

“I’m not sure he’s ever played a snap of D-line in his life, and I think he did a dang good job,” Thoren said of Chrismon. “That’s a big plus for us moving forward. He has a chance to be a really good player for us on both sides.”

Lawrence continued to put itself behind the sticks with penalties, mostly false starts and other procedural infractions. Shawnee Mission Northwest was called for its fair share of penalties, but most came from play with facemasks and late hits.

“There’s some youth, but they have to grow up in a hurry,” Thoren said of the self-inflicted penalties. “We just have to keep plugging and getting better.”

The Lions faced a third-and-15 after some negative plays, but Dooley hit Becker for a 43-yard pass to give the Lions some momentum. It didn’t last long, as the Lions fumbled the ball shortly after, giving the Cougars the ball at their own 41-yard line.

The Cougars drove downfield and scored with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Woodruff to senior receiver Brandon Brown late in the third quarter. Lawrence didn’t go far on the next drive, as an incomplete pass on third-and-19 sent out the punt unit early in the final quarter.

Woodruff hit Brown for another long touchdown after he got behind the Lawrence defense from 31 yards out. The score put the Cougars up 26-7 after a two-point conversion failed.

Lawrence’s offense came out with some tempo and started to move the chains with some rhythm, but another turnover ended the drive. On the drive, Becker caught a 7-yard pass from Dooley, which was the 100th reception of his career. He finished with two more catches for a total of five receptions for 115 yards, including two for over 40 yards.

Shawnee Mission Northwest ran the ball and the clock effectively. The Cougars drained the clock to 36 seconds before a missed field goal attempt.

The Lions moved the chains twice with a throw to Becker for 14 yards and a 6-yard throw to sophomore Truth Pope. Time expired as Dooley hit Becker for a screen pass that went 45 yards but fell 30 yards short of scoring.

The Lions will take on Shawnee Mission North next Friday at the Shawnee Mission North District Stadium at 7 p.m.

Line score

LHS 0 7 0 0 – 7

SMNW 7 7 6 6 – 26

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

Lawrence High sophomore quarterback Joey Dooley looks for a teammate down the field against Shawnee Mission Northwest at Shawnee Mission District Stadium, North Location, on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in Overland Park.

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

Lawrence High sophomore quarterback Joey Dooley holds out his arm while carrying the ball against Shawnee Mission Northwest at Shawnee Mission District Stadium, North Location, on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in Overland Park.

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

Lawrence High senior wide receiver Jaxon Becker carries the ball down the field against Shawnee Mission Northwest at Shawnee Mission District Stadium, North Location, on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025 in Overland Park.

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

Lawrence High senior running back Tahj Edwards sticks his arm out while carrying the ball against Shawnee Mission Northwest at Shawnee Mission District Stadium, North Location, on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025 in Overland Park.

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

Lawrence High sophomore quarterback Joey Dooley calls a play before the snap against Shawnee Mission Northwest at Shawnee Mission District Stadium, North Location, on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025 in Overland Park.

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

Lawrence High senior wide receiver Jaxon Becker carries the ball against Shawnee Mission Northwest at Shawnee Mission District Stadium, North Location, on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025 in Overland Park.

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

Lawrence High sophomore quarterback Joey Dooley prepares to throw the ball against Shawnee Mission Northwest at Shawnee Mission District Stadium, North Location, on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025 in Overland Park.

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

Lawrence High senior running back Tahj Edwards trips as he runs toward the end zone against Shawnee Mission Northwest at Shawnee Mission District Stadium, North Location, on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025 in Overland Park.

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

Lawrence High sophomore quarterback Joey Dooley prepares to throw the ball against Shawnee Mission Northwest at Shawnee Mission District Stadium, North Location, on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025 in Overland Park.

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

Lawrence High sophomore quarterback Joey Dooley hands the ball to senior running back Tahj Edwards against Shawnee Mission Northwest at Shawnee Mission District Stadium, North Location, on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025 in Overland Park.

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

Lawrence High sophomore quarterback Joey Dooley throws the ball against Shawnee Mission Northwest at Shawnee Mission District Stadium, North Location, on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025 in Overland Park.