Lawrence High allows 2-score lead to slip away, loses 29-28 in OT against Shawnee Mission North

Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports

Shawnee Mission North’s Cameron Middleton celebrates after hauling in a 2-point conversion in overtime, sealing the 29-28 victory for the Bison over Lawrence High on Oct. 16 at Shawnee Mission North High School.

The Lawrence High Lions had victory well within their grasp Thursday night before it came crashing down in heartbreaking fashion.

An inability to come up with defensive stops on consecutive critical plays in overtime ultimately doomed Lawrence in its 29-28 loss to the Shawnee Mission North Bison on the road, but it was a crucial fourth turnover and several defensive lapses late that led to overtime.

“Our guys have played a lot of close games and are tired of this [outcome],” said Lions’ head coach Jason Thoreson as his club moves to 0-7. “I saw a lot of good things from the team I liked tonight, but I really wanted to see them coming off the field smiling.”

The Lions were seemingly in control with a 21-7 lead early in the fourth quarter. But the Bison stormed back, capping a methodical drive on Cameron Redding’s 12-yard rushing score to trim the deficit to 21-14. Midway through the final frame, Shawnee Mission North signal-caller Alex Casares connected with speedy wideout Trevion Dyer for a 56-yard touchdown strike, knotting the contest at 21.

Looking to regain the lead, Lawrence quarterback Joey Dooley was intercepted with 1:29 showing on the clock. The pass was returned for a touchdown, but the long run was wiped out on a holding penalty.

Lawrence High football vs. Shawnee Mission North, Week 7-4-2

Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports

Shawnee Mission North players celebrates the dramatic victory over Lawrence High.

Shawnee Mission North (1-6) managed to set up sophomore kicker Cameron Middleton for a game-winning 33-yard attempt with 10 seconds remaining, but his low line-drive boot was easily blocked by the Lions’ special teams unit — sending the contest to overtime.

Operating from the 10-yard line, the Lions needed three plays to find paydirt courtesy of Ethan Curry’s three-yard scamper. With the extra point tacked on, Lawrence led 28-21.

Shawnee Mission North picked up eight yards on its first three plays, leaving the Bison facing a fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line. Needing one stop to secure its first victory of the season, Casares rolled to his right, avoiding a heavy Bison rush, dropping the ball into Dyer’s arms in the right corner of the end zone.

“It was a [cover] zero,” Thoren said of the defensive strategy, adding that successful speed options by Casares heavily factored into the defensive equation. “So it was just zero coverage pressure and [Casares] was able to slip out and we lost the tiger end.”

Trailing 28-27, Shawnee Mission North head coach Danny Long dialed up a 2-point play that would either hand his squad an ultra-dramatic comeback victory or send the Bison to a stinging defeat. On the play, Middleton leaked to the right side of the end zone and hauled in the game-winning toss from Casares.

Lawrence High football vs. Shawnee Mission North, Week 7-17

Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports

Lawrence’s Tahj Edwards breaks off a 50-yard run early in the first quarter.

Long said the crucial fourth-and-goal call was actually drawn up as the team’s go-to 2-point play in a critical situation. Thoren noted that he was unsurprised that the Bison opted for the 2-point play.

“I figured they would,” he said.

Lawrence’s defensive line was thoroughly disruptive early, registering multiple sacks of Casares — including from Malachi Chrismon and Josh Galbreath, forcing the Bison to punt. After pitching a first half shutout, it was a different story in the second half as the Bison moved up and down the field. Thoren said his defense spent too much time on the field due to Casares’ ability to “dink and dunk.”

“It kept us on the field a little bit more than we would have liked,” Thoren said.

Lions’ senior tailback Tahj Edwards racked up over 100 yards in the first half — breaking off runs of 50 and 45 yards. Edwards also capped both drives with short rushing scores, staking the Lions to a 14-0 halftime advantage, which also included a missed extra point and a 2-point catch by Jaxon Becker. Edward was unavailable in overtime after exiting the game on Lawrence’s final offensive play in regulation.

Lawrence High football vs. Shawnee Mission North, Week 7-27

Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports

Lawrence’s Joey Dooley throws a pass over the middle during the first half.

It wasn’t until midway through the third quarter when the Bison finally got on the scoreboard. After multiple penalties backed the Bison up to the Lions’s 28-yard line, Middleton hauled in a short pass from Carter and eluded several would-be tacklers on his way to paydirt. The Bison trailed 14-7 after Middleton’s extra point sailed through the uprights.

For the Bison, Long lauded the Lions as a “good team,” but added that his squad “kept sawing wood and just got after it” in the second half.

In search of their first victory, the Lions host archrival Free State High School (5-1, 5-0 District-play) in the City Showdown, 7 pm Oct. 24.

Thoreson said his squad will be up to the challenge of slowing a Free State offense that is averaging 40.7 points per game during its current four-game win streak.

“I don’t think there has been a game we haven’t been ready to play,” he said, adding that it’s “about us, it’s not about Free State.”