Lions look to continue perfection in postseason football game tonight

Lions+shake+hands+with+Shawnee+Mission+North+football+players+after+the+home+victory+Nov.+6+at+LHS.

Ian Jones

Lions shake hands with Shawnee Mission North football players after the home victory Nov. 6 at LHS.

By Colton Lovelace

Coming off a 56-32 thrashing of SM North, the 10-0 Chesty Lions look to continue their undefeated ways by beating fourth-seeded Blue Valley.

Last week, the Chesty Lions put up 56 points on a season high 560 total yards of offense, which included 361 rushing yards on 34 carries. Senior running back JD Woods led the team with 186 yards on 18 carries, including four touchdowns. Quarterback Alan Clothier went 10-13 with 199 yards and two touchdowns, and added seven carries for 93 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Blue Valley (8-2) is averaging 37 points a game this year, and is only giving up about 20 points a game. The Lions can expect a physical team that will give them a true test as they seek to extend their season into sub-state playoffs next week.

“I’m really looking forward to how we react when a team finally punches back,” Hollins said. “They’re real physical, so we’re going to have to play physical for all 48 minutes of the game.”

Coach Dirk Wedd agreed, saying the little things might decide the outcome in the end.

“Blue Valley is really good, they can run the ball really well, and then can burn you with the pass on top of that,” Wedd said. “We will have to play our best game of the season. Special teams and turnovers could very well decide the outcome of the game.”

One part of the offense that is clicking for the Lions right now is the passing game, which catches a lot of defenses off guard. Most teams believe LHS will run the ball for most of the game, which results in them putting eight or nine in the box, but the play action has been on point the last couple of games, and they will look for that to continue Friday night.

For this year’s seniors, this is the last time they will take the home turf as Lions due to KSHSAA rules.

“It’s a big game, it’s one of those you can’t lose,” Hollins said. “If we lose, we’re done, so we can’t take this lightly. Our outstanding student section will make it so loud and the fact it’s our last home game makes it even more important.”

Kickoff is 7 p.m. at the LHS Football Stadium. Tickets are $5 for students and $6 for adults. Students activity passes will not be accepted because it is a post-season event.