Lawrence holds on for 35-34 win over Shawnee Mission East

Senior running back James Poole sprints down the field and to the end zone for a touchdown against Shawnee Mission East on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.

Explosive plays through the ground and air helped Lawrence football take an early lead and survive a late push to win 35-34 over Shawnee Mission East.

“We have a lot to grow from here,” Lawrence coach Jason Thoren said. “We needed that kind of gritty win. I think that helps that we got a lead, they came back, and we had to finish.”

Shawnee Mission East came in committed to the ground game with a big, physical offensive line. Despite a size disadvantage, the Lawrence defense remained stout, holding the Lancers from explosive plays and only one first-half touchdown.

The Lancers started with the ball and picked up a couple of first downs before a holding call put the Lancers behind the sticks. Shawnee Mission East couldn’t overcome the penalty and punted on the opening drive.

Lawrence also started with a commitment to the ground game, utilizing zone reads with junior quarterback Joey Dooley to get early first downs. On the first pass play, Dooley threw an out to junior receiver Truth Pope, who broke a few tackles and turned on the burners for a 73-yard touchdown.

The Lancers went three-and-out, and Lawrence answered almost immediately. Senior Ethan Curry broke through some tackles at the line of scrimmage for a 52-yard touchdown run late in the opening quarter.

Shawnee Mission East managed to get on the board with their next drive, with a lot of help on a big run up the middle on a fourth-and-inches that put the Lancers at the Lawrence 5-yard line. A 3-yard touchdown run put the Lancers on the board in the second quarter.

Dooley kept the ball on the first play of the following drive for a 47-yard gain, and he later finished the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run, putting him over 100 yards on the ground in the half.

The Lions stuck to option plays with Dooley and the running backs, and it worked well due to both the decision making of Dooley and the dynamism of the running back trio.

“We had a good scout of them going into the game,” Dooley said. “It starts with our O-line. They set up these plays to make us explosive.”

Lawrence forced a Shawnee Mission East punt late in the half, and a 52-yard screen pass to Pope put the Lions near field goal range. Dooley couldn’t connect on a few passes, and the Lions stalled at the 25-yard line and went into halftime with a 21-7 lead.

Lawrence got the ball out of halftime and stuck to an effective run game. Curry had a 31-yard run to set the Lions up, and Dooley finished the drive not long after with a 26-yard run up the middle on a zone read.

Shawnee Mission East ran the ball much more efficiently out of halftime, and with an explosive 20-yard run, the Lancers managed to push their way into the end zone to keep it a two-touchdown game.

Acein Goodman started the Lawrence drive with a big run to the outside, but a behind-the-back punch knocked the ball away for a fumble that the Lancers recovered. 14 plays later — 13 of which were run plays — and the Lancers scored a 22-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-1.

“I had to regroup myself,” Goodman said about the fumble. “It was all in my mind. It’s all a mindset.”

Lawrence moved the ball to start the following drive, which began with a 16-yard run by Dooley. The offense faced a fourth-and-2 at the Shawnee Mission East 35, but Curry’s run was a yard short.

The Lancers drove down the field and even converted a fourth-and-5 through the air to score and tie the game with 7:35 left.

Goodman redeemed himself from his earlier fumble with a kick return to the Shawnee Mission East 47-yard line.

“That’s where I got my energy back,” Goodman said.

A 2-yard rush and an incomplete pass set up a third-and-long from the 45-yard line, but the Lancers showed the Lions the look they were hoping for on their next pass play. The linebackers dropped down and Goodman ran right past them, streaking toward the end zone in the middle of the field wide open. Dooley lofted the throw up in the air, and Goodman ran under it, secured it and got into the end zone to take a 35-28 lead.

“We drew up that play all week, we knew it would work if they dropped their linebackers down and it was a great play,” Goodman said.

Shawnee Mission East used up almost every second left on the clock on the following drive and scored with 31.4 seconds left.

The Lancers stuck to a familiar redzone play for a 2-point conversion attempt, but Lawrence was prepared for it. The defensive line built a wall and refused to get pushed off the line of scrimmage.

Who exactly got the game-saving tackle was difficult to tell from the press box, the sideline and even on the field. The defensive line came together and made the play as a unit, collapsing the running lane and getting the tackle short of the goal line.

“It was our guys’ will to get it done,” Thoren said. “It’s a decision: Do you want to win or not? It’s a decision and they made it. They knew they had to go get it. They played hard all night, but they had to show up on it and get to the football.”

Curry jumped up and caught the ball on the onside kick, taking a shot to the ribs as he came down with possession of the football. Three victory formation snaps secured Lawrence’s win to get to 2-1 on the season.

“This team’s a good football team, and we can get a lot better,” Thoren said. “They’re learning football. They want to learn, and they’re trying. The kids work hard, and they’re learning how to finish. I hope they realize what they can get done at this point.”

Lawrence will be back at home on Friday against Olathe East at 7 p.m.