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

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

After months of offseason preparation, the Lawrence football team is ready for week 1.

The Lions will start their season on the road against Olathe West, a team that went 3-6 in 2024 in its second season under coach Jon Wiemers. That season featured youth on the Owls that the team will bring back.

“It’s hard to tell (what teams will look like) with the first opponent, but they brought a few guys back,” Lawrence coach Jason Thoren said. “I think they’re pretty strong up front. They’re a good team, they played some good games last year.”

Lawrence will have to deal with the usual challenges of the first week of the season. While teams practice all summer, players have limited live tackling reps, which means tackling for the defense is always an early concern. It takes time for players to adjust to the regular season speed of the game.

With that, Thoren wants to see his team play and see how they solve problems on the fly and adjust to what’s happening on the field.

“I’m ready to see how we play, I’m ready to see how we react to adversity, I’m ready to see all those things,” Thoren said. “I think (Olathe West) is going to want to run the football, I think this team is going to be tough. I want to see us hang loose a bit and play some football.”

One of Lawrence’s top returners Josh Galbreath will be an important key to that. Galbreath moved around the defense in 2024 to combat opposing offenses. As a senior, he will be one of the leaders on the defense in diagnosing and reacting to Olathe West’s offense.

“I think we can be good (against the run),” Thoren said. “We have a lot to learn in terms of tackling at the line of scrimmage. I want to see how we react, how we get downhill and go get things.”

In Lawrence’s preseason jamboree, Thoren was pleased with how the team tackled. However, live games are another step up in intensity, and the team will have to be fundamentally sound to avoid missed tackles.

On the other side of the ball, the Lions held a quarterback battle between Colton Curry and Joey Dooley. Thoren said that he’s confident in both to get the job done if they play.

The Lions bring a strong run game into 2025, starting with senior running back Tahj Edwards. Last year, Edwards was a consistent weapon who showed an ability to be an every down back. Along with his running ability, Edwards showed consistency as a pass catcher and safety valve for last year’s starting quarterback Banks Bowen, and he also was a strong pass blocker when asked to.

Friday’s road game will be an early test for what the Lions can accomplish later in the year, but seeing how the team responds to the game will be equally important. Thoren said a lot of development happens between the first two weeks of the season as players get their first game action and adjust to the speed of the game.

It’s been only four months since Thoren was hired as the head coach, but the team has spent a lot of time in those months preparing for the season. Now, on the eve of their first game, the Lions are ready to get back under the lights.

“This group is excited to play,” Thoren said. “They’ve been working hard. It’s been a long offseason, and I think we’re ready.”

Kickoff between Lawrence and Olathe West is at 7 p.m. at the College Boulevard Activity Center on Friday.