photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence junior Zoey Barber raises a flag in the air after recording a sack in a 32-0 win over Gardner Edgerton on Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

Lawrence flag football had a late start to the season, only meeting coach Silas Dulan three weeks before the team’s first game against Olathe Northwest.

But that hasn’t slowed down the Lions much at all through the team’s first two games. Dulan said it’s part of the team’s story, and the headline of that story through two weeks has been a stifling defense.

“We started knowing how to play with each other just out of the jump,” junior Lucy Juelsgaard said. “No one really knew each other outside of some basketball girls, but we can read things really well and that’s what has gotten it started for us.”

Lawrence won its home opener 44-0 over the Ravens on Sept. 2 and won its second game 32-7 over the Trailblazers on Monday. Against Gardner Edgerton, the Lions were active in creating turnovers and scoring on defense, as they came away with seven interceptions and three pick sixes.

As Dulan is new to the team, so too are a number of the players. Most of the Lions’ two-way players weren’t on last year’s trial team, but are multi-sport athletes at Lawrence. Those Lions are getting used to the sport as much as they are getting used to their new coach.

Juelsgaard is one of the Lions who got a takeaway in Monday’s game, and she’s also one of the team’s newcomers this year. She has a few familiar teammates from basketball and softball on the team but is new to the sport overall.

“My two other brothers played here and at Baker,” Juelsgaard said. “I thought I knew the game, and then I got in the game and was like, ‘What am I doing?'”

But Juelsgaard and her teammates have quickly put things together. She credited Dulan’s passion for the sport and the team, as well as his ability to teach and coach the game. Only a few weeks into their football playing careers, the Lions have grown a lot in their understanding of the game, which has led to their early success.

Dulan is a defensive-minded coach and has entrenched a defensive mindset into his team. It takes more time for an offense to get in rhythm and be consistent, so the Lions are making sure that the team can rely on the defense not just to keep other teams from scoring but to put points on the board themselves.

There’s a confidence that helps the team with how the Lions perform defensively. The Lions have a lot of players who play both sides of the ball, and if someone drops a pass or makes a mistake on offense, Dulan likes to put them on defense on the next drive. Getting a stop, a pass breakup or an interception can help give a player confidence to get a catch on offense.

With two big wins under the team’s belt, the Lions celebrated the win the night of the game and the following day during film study. But after that, they’re focused on what is coming up on the schedule. The team still has a lot of growth left as the season goes on, and that’s what the team is focused on.

“I’m excited, but our coaches just remind us to be 1-0,” sophomore Marley Doleman said. “Every week, we just try to be 1-0.”

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence freshman Jordyn Dooley runs after a catch in a 32-0 win over Gardner Edgerton on Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

The Lawrence offense starts to run its routes in a 32-0 win over Gardner Edgerton on Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence freshman Jordyn Dooley catches a ball in a 32-0 win over Gardner Edgerton on Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence sophomore Marley Doleman moves in space in a 32-0 win over Gardner Edgerton on Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence junior Macyn Ramsay looks downfield in a 32-0 win over Gardner Edgerton on Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, in Lawrence.