Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports

Lawrence High junior quarterback Joey Dooley winds up for a pass attempt while leaping into the air on a play during a Week 3 football game against Shawnee Mission East on Friday, Sept. 18 at Lawrence High School.

After three weeks of the 2026 football season, Lawrence High has already surpassed the team’s win total from a season ago.

The Lions also overcame a late-game trend that has haunted them through the first 11 games with head coach Jason Thoren at the helm.

After seeing a three-score lead in the second half slip away down the stretch, Lawrence High delivered a goal-line stand to prevent a go-ahead score and preserved a 35-34 victory.

The Lions reached two wins in three weeks after winning just one game last season, which did not take place until they defeated Free State 24-6 in the final week of the regular season.

Prior to this win, the team had been 0-5 in one-score games during the Thoren era. Those five losses include Lawrence High losing 28-20 against Shawnee Mission East at home last year, as well as losing 28-26 on the road against Gardner Edgerton to start this season.

But in the Lions home opener, they had hoped to replicate the team’s dominant performance from last week when Lawrence High earned a 31-7 road victory over Junction City.

The Lions got off to a similar hot start. They used their dynamic offense to take control early, building up a three-score lead by the opening minutes of the third quarter when junior quarterback Joey Dooley called his own number on a 26-yard touchdown run.

But Lawrence High would struggle for much of the final 22 minutes as the Lancers staged a slow, methodical comeback with their team’s run-heavy offensive attack.

Even after the Lions finally scored once more to retake the lead midway through the fourth quarter, Shawnee Mission East responded with a touchdown of its own in the final minute of regulation.

Lancers senior running back Gus Ketteler scored four rushing touchdowns in the game. Except for his 22-yard touchdown burst late in the third quarter, Ketteler’s other three scores were from three yards out or closer. Shawnee Mission East quarterback Owen Wantland scored the team’s other touchdown on a 1-yard run as well.

Needing just one more 3-yard run into the end zone,  the Lancers went for the win on a 2-point attempt. And once again, they handed the ball off to Ketteler up the middle. But this time, the Lions finally buckled down and stopped Ketteler short of the goal line.

The Lions recovered the ball during the onside kick attempt on the ensuing kickoff, allowing Dooley to take a knee a couple of times, running out the rest of the clock and sealing the 35-34 victory.

Dooley finished with four total touchdowns, two passing and two rushing. He started with a 73-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Truth Pope, who made multiple defenders miss to reel after most of those yards after the catch.

Dooley also completed a 45-yard touchdown pass to sophomore running back Acein Goodman, which proved to be the game-winning score for the Lions. Senior running back Ethan Curry rounded out the Lions’ scoring with a 51-yard touchdown run in the opening quarter.

Lawrence High (2-1) will host Olathe East at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25.

Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports

Lawrence High’s Alex Bart celebrates after the team’s goal-line stand to seal the victory against Shawnee Mission East on Friday, Sept. 18 at Lawrence High School.

Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports

Lawrence High junior wide receiver Truth Pope runs by defenders on one of his catches during a Week 3 football game against Shawnee Mission East on Friday, Sept. 18 at Lawrence High School.

Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports

Lawrence High senior running back Ethan Curry finds open space to run after making a defender miss during a Week 3 football game against Shawnee Mission East on Friday, Sept. 18 at Lawrence High School.

Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports

Lawrence High sophomore running back Acein Goodman runs towards open space on the outside during a Week 3 football game against Shawnee Mission East on Friday, Sept. 18 at Lawrence High School.

Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports

Lawrence High junior wide receiver Truth Pope and offensive coordinator Taylor Stuart celebrate after Pope’s touchdown score in the first quarter of the football team’s Week 3 game against Shawnee Mission East on Friday, Sept. 18 at Lawrence High School.