photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

The Lawrence defensive line squares up against the Olathe Northwest offensive line during the Lions' game on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, at the CBAC in Olathe.

Lawrence High football on Friday will host Mill Valley, one of the winningest programs in the state in recent years, and one that executes and wins when it matters most.

Lawrence coach Jason Thoren is much more focused on his own team. To him, it’s all about how his team can perform better and continue to improve as a group.

“It’s a challenge, but for us it’s about us rather than who we are playing,” Thoren said. “They’re a good football team, for sure. They’ve got good football players and they execute well on both sides of the ball. That’s what we’re trying to get to. It doesn’t matter who’s in front of you, it matters what you’re doing.”

Even with starting the year 0-3, Thoren has seen his team continue to grow and execute the game plan at a higher level. The Lions have succeeded in different phases at different times but haven’t been able to put a complete game together.

While the Jaguars are currently a 5A school, the team is as capable as any school in the state. Mill Valley won the 5A state championship in 2023 and was the only team to beat Gardner Edgerton last season. The Jaguars’ only loss to a Kansas school last year came to the eventual 5A champions from Saint Thomas Aquinas.

This year, the Jaguars are 2-1, with the lone loss coming to Lee’s Summit North from Missouri. Mill Valley beat Olathe East 28-0 in Week 1 and Shawnee Mission East 56-21 last Friday. The Jaguars are averaging 35 points per game on offense and 17 points per game allowed on defense.

Lawrence has built some confidence offensively coming off last week’s game against Olathe Northwest. There were times where the offense struggled, particularly in the red zone, but the team was able to move the ball down the field, especially in the first half.

Sophomore quarterback Joey Dooley earned his first start last week for the Lions and put together a solid performance. He finished 16-for-27 passing with 187 yards and a passing touchdown. He started the game by completing eight of his first nine passes for 111 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, Dooley added 74 more yards and a rushing touchdown.

“There were a lot of good things on offense that we grew in, and we have to keep plugging for tomorrow,” Thoren said. “Each game there have been things where (the team) can build confidence on, and I’m excited to see us put it together totally.”

Where Lawrence struggled on defense was in stopping the run, and part of that came with losing junior defensive lineman Ty Sessions to injury. Lawrence has needed some of its younger linemen to step up and play varsity for the first time.

“(The young players) have been here all year and worked, so it’s not like we’re having to move people over,” Thoren said. “So it’s a matter of getting guys in and getting them playing time and getting used to the speed of it. That’ll be the biggest thing, anytime you’re getting reps for the first time.”

Once again, the Lions will need to start their defensive game plan around stopping the run game. Thoren said the Jaguars will “come after you,” and that the Lions will need to respond and “come right back at them.”

“They take great pride in their run game,” Thoren said of the Jaguars. “They’re very good at it. They’re quick and they’re strong up front. They’re well coached in what they’re doing. They have a quarterback who can really run and hurt you that way, too.”

The experience and skill the Lions have defensively around the young linemen can help ease the transition and prevent too many big plays from happening. It’ll be imperative for senior linebackers Josh Galbreath and Jadin Harrell to continue to fly around the field and be stout run defenders.

“I’m excited to see them get in and see how they respond,” Thoren said of the defensive line. “We’ve got a good core of guys around them. They’ll all tough kids and they’re going to work hard.”

Learning how to put it all together has been a theme of the season for Lawrence. The team has put a number of young players into varsity roles for the first time, and so it has experienced a lot of teaching moments. Thoren believes that, whether it’s in three weeks or five weeks or next year, this team will learn from the mistakes and execute at a high level.

“I know we’re going to get there,” Thoren said. “I’d like to get there urgently, personally, but I know we’re going to get there.”

Friday’s game will kickoff at 7 p.m. at Lawrence High School.