Lindsay Ryan/Lawrence Sports
Shawnee Mission East’s Jack Reeves powers through Lawrence High players to score a goal-line rushing touchdown during a football Friday, Oct. 2025, at Lawrence High School.
Despite playing 23 minutes and 40 seconds of good football, the Lawrence High Lions’ halftime locker room was somber. Lawrence hung tough with the Shawnee Mission East Lancers for almost the entire first half and even scored with 20 seconds left to tie the game.
But Lancer quarterback Jack Reeves spoiled the Lions’ mood – and their homecoming dreams – when he galloped 80 yards for a touchdown with eight seconds remaining in the half.
“We addressed it and said, ‘Hey, nobody wanted it to happen,” Lawrence coach Jason Thoren said of the run. “It can’t be the end of the world because there’s 24 minutes left.”
The Lions were able to bounce back quickly in the third quarter, as they forced the Lancers’ only punt of the game in the opening minutes of the second half thanks to a sack by junior Alex Bart. Even so, Shawnee Mission East kept Lawrence at arm’s length the rest of the night, as the Lions fell to 0-5 on the season with a 28-20 loss, their third single-digit loss of the season.
Reeves entered Friday’s game as the Lancers’ (4-1) primary source of offense, and that continued at LHS. The senior quarterback carried the ball 32 times for 253 yards and scored all four of the team’s touchdowns. Reeves found success on quarterback sweep plays from under center, where he was able to make Lawrence defenders miss and find cutback lanes.
“He’s able to hide in there and put his foot in the ground,” Thoren said. “He’s a good football player.”
Lindsay Ryan/Lawrence Sports
Lawrence High running back Tahj Edwards break a tackle on a big run to set up a opening-drive score for the Lions.
Down 28-14 early in the fourth quarter, things looked grim for Lawrence. But a 42-yard run by Tahj Edwards gave the Lions life. The senior running back had a team-high 110 rushing yards and one touchdown on 12 carries.
“We had some big plays in the run game coming right at them,” Thoren said. “Last week, it was more counter. This week, it was more zone. That’s encouraging that we’re getting better at both of those looks.
“I thought our (offensive) line played well.”
A few plays later, sophomore quarterback Joey Dooley lofted a pass down the sideline, and senior receiver Jaxon Becker elevated for the catch and got both feet down in bounds for a touchdown to give the Lions life, as they pulled to within eight, 28-20.
But that was the last time the Lions possessed the ball.
Lindsay Ryan/Lawrence Sports
Lawrence players on defense swarm a Shawnee Mission running back during a first half play.
With 2:48 remaining in the game, the Lions forced the Lancers into a fourth and one on the Lions’ 21-yard line. Reeves did what he had all night: He called his own number on a quarterback sweep and cut upfield for a six-yard run to end the Lions’ chances at their first win of the season.
“We anticipated them going outside,” Thoren said. “I think we were there, but (Reeves) makes one guy miss, he slips through and is able to get the first.”
The Lions opened the game with an eight-play touchdown drive, which ended with a six-yard touchdown run by Dooley, who finished the game with 106 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns. Edwards had a 37-yard run earlier in the drive to get the Lions going.
Like they would all night, the Lancers responded with their rushing attack. They opened the game with a 12-play drive, all of which were rushes, that burned 6:30 off the clock. It was punctuated by a four-yard touchdown by Reeves.
The Lions failed to score on the following drive, and the Lancers continued to grind their way through the Lions’ defense on their second offensive drive of the game. After another drive that took nearly seven minutes off the clock, Shawnee Mission East took the lead on a seven-yard touchdown run by Reeves.
Photographer/Outlet
Lawrence High’s Jaxon Becker spins out of a tackle attempt a during a reception in the first quarter.
Faced with the proposition of having to kick to a Shawnee Mission offense that didn’t have a negative play in the entire first half to start the third quarter, Lawrence needed points before halftime.
Enter Becker, who took a short kickoff 31 yards past midfield to give the Lions a spark. A few plays later, Dooley hit senior Becker on a slant to convert a fourth and seven and move the Lions to the one-yard line. On the next play, Edwards plunged into the endzone with 20 seconds remaining.
Lawrence did not let Shawnee Mission’s ensuing 80-yard touchdown run before halftime break its spirit, but the Lions were never able to claw their way back into the game.
Thoren had a short but simple message for his team after the game: Stick together.
“We fought until the very last snap,” Thoren said.
Lawrence is on the road at Shawnee Mission Northwest next Friday at 7 p.m.
Lindsay Ryan/Lawrence Sports
Lawrence High’s Joey Dooley leaps into the air to celebrate his rushing touchdown in the first quarter.
