The Lions, looking to repeat as regional champions, battled hard, but fell in a heartbreaker on Friday, Nov. 4 to Shawnee Mission North, 52-49.

The game started off poorly for the Lions, as the Indians scored two early touchdowns to put the Lions behind 14-0. Things looked even more grim for the team as senior running back, Trey Moore limped off the field with an ankle injury.

Determined to save their season, senior backup running back James Reeder stepped in for the team, scoring two quick touchdowns to bring the Lions back into the game. With the teams tied, Reeder intercepted SMN quarterback Will Schneider, returning the ball back into the redzone for the Lions. At the end of the play, Reeder rolled his ankle as he was tackled down, forcing Lions to turn to third-string running back Angel Garcia.

Garcia, ready to go, carried the ball up the middle to give the Lions their first lead of the game, 21-14.

On the next drive, junior wideout/cornerback Ekow Boye-Doe intercepted another pass of Schneider, giving the Lions possession at the 31 yard line. Boye-Doe proved pivotal for the Lions, finishing the game with three receptions for 91 yards, an interception and a decisive deflection on a two point conversion from the Indians late in the game.

The Lions and the Indians exchanged turnovers on consecutive drives, giving LHS the ball at their own 26 yard line. Junior quarterback Dante Jackson, without his safety net in Moore, took to the air, finding receivers deep downfield all game, finishing with 218 yards and two touchdowns.

His first touchdown of the night came in spectacular fashion, finding sophomore receiver Clarence King around midfield on corner route. King plucked the ball out of the air and left his defender in shambles after viciously stiff arming him before smoothly spinning of his whim of a tackle. King ran the ball the rest of the way, giving LHS a 28-14 advantage. SMN added a quick touchdown through the air, sending the teams into the intermission with the Lions leading by seven.

LHS received the second half kick, however Jackson squandered the opportunity to add to the Lions lead, throwing an interception on his first throw of the half. SMN rushed the ball on four consecutive plays, finding the endzone on the final attempt, evening the score, 28-28.

Jackson made up for his earlier mistake, driving the Lions down the field and finding Boye-Doe in the back of the endzone, putting the Lions ahead 35-28.

This lead was momentary however, as Schneider threw the ball deep downfield, setting up a one yard rushing touchdown for SMN running back Marcos Garcia.

With his team lacking any momentum, the dynamic playmaker Jackson orchestrated a crucial drive downfield, including two huge fourth down conversions from his feet. The drive culminated with another Angel Garcia touchdown, putting the Lions ahead by seven.

Again, this lead proved brief as Schneider drove his team downfield, finishing the drive by bulldozing into the endzone for his fourth score of the game. SMN chose to go for two, and the Lions were elated to see Boye-Doe come up with a stellar pass defense to keep the Lions ahead by 1.

On their next drive, Jackson completed yet another pass deep downfield to King, who carried it inside of the five, allowing for Garcia to find the endzone for his third rushing touchdown of the game.

Ahead by 8, the defense was left standing as Schneider blew away the Lions, finding a receiver downfield for an 80 yard score. This time, the Indians were able to convert for two points, tying the game at 49 apiece. With three minutes remaining, the game looked to be a battle of which team could have the ball last.

The offense stalled as Jackson was sacked, forcing the Lions to punt, giving SMN the ball inside of two minutes.

With renewed energy, the defense for the Lions played the best they may have played all night, however the skill of Schneider proved too much for the team as he completed pass after pass, bringing his team inside the Lions’ 20.

SMN lined up in field goal formation, and as the ball was snapped, head coach Dirk Wedd called for timeout, in an attempt to ice junior kicker Oscar Aguilar. The next play Aguilar, drilled a 27 yard field goal, putting the Indians ahead by 3 with less than five seconds in the contest.

LHS attempted a miraculous play to save their season, but the ball fell to the ground, ending the Lions’ season.

LHS ended their season as regional runner-ups, finishing with a 6-4 record.