Scoreboard Summary

Thursday 8/30
Leavenworth 41 SM North 16:   Led by Jason Randall the Leavenworth Pioneers opened the 2012 season in style crushing the Indians of SMN 41-16.  Randall rushed for 225 yards on the night with 3 touchdowns (36,49,57).  LV opened the night up with a 16-0 lead, however North would respond with two TD runs of their own by Caleb Denman, and Henry Bell tying things at 16 at the half.  Second half would be all LV and all Jason Randall as they outscored SMN 25-0 in the second half.

Friday 8/31
Lawrence Free State 37 Olathe NW 0: Much of the hype surrounding the 2012 season was Free State and their passing attack.  On Friday night we didn't get to see the potential of this attack as the weather forced LFS to not attempt a pass the entire night.  Instead the Firebirds had to attack from the ground, and whatever game plan they had worked.  Olathe NW couldn't hold onto the ball the entire night as they fumbled ten times, turning the ball over only twice.  Free State had no turnovers on the night, and made ONW pay for each one.  LFS struck early and often with two Joe Dineen rushing touchdowns (20,6) putting the Firebirds up 17-0 at the end of the first quarter.  After two more (35,24) yard touchdown runs by Kyle McFarland LFS was able to push the lead to 30-0 at the half.  Olathe NW never found a way to get things going and eventually fell 37-0.

Olathe North 14  SM Northwest 25: The Linn Hibbs era at SM Northwest began last night in style as the Cougars defeated Gene Wier and the Olathe North Eagles.  Northwest who never completed a pass was led by an impressive rushing attack from Kelby Quint who ended with 154 yards on 26 carries.  Northwest responded from an early 7-0 deficit to rally with 19 straight points to take a 19-7 lead into the half.  The Cougs would tack on a late touchdown off a 51 yard interception return by Khalil Hattley to hold off the Eagles 25-14.

SM West 20  Lawrence 14: Brad Strauss fought all night long to help keep Lawrence in a close battle with Sunflower League foe SM West in a soggy night at Lawrence High.  Despite having all the preseason hype coming into the season, Hurricane Isaac helped level the playing fields across the Kansas City area.  Trailing 20-14 late in the 4th quarter Strauss again had a chance to keep Lawrence in the game, and steal one from West.  With eight seconds left in the game, Strauss hurried his players to the line and got a snap off with a second left.  He dropped back and threw a jump ball to wide out Drake Hofer that was broken up by West defenders ending the game with an upset.  Despite the rain Strauss finished the night 17-33 with 195 yards passing and a touchdown both on the ground and in the air. 
*For a replay of this game check channels 6,206 in the Lawrence area on Knology.

SM South 0  SM East 23: East quarterback Jordan Darling made his Sunflower League debut at SMS District stadium in a huge rivalry match up for the Lancers.  They faced off with none other than SM South, and running back Gabe Guild.  East struck first on the night after a bad snap on a South punt went into the end zone for a safety.  Darling added to the lead on a one yard TD run putting the Lancers ahead 9-0 at the half.   The second half was the same story as East tacked on two more rushing touchdowns giving them the 23-0 win.  Guild was the leading rusher on the night finishing with 139 yards off 27 carries, despite the big night on the ground South was unable to find the end zone.

Game Of The Week:
Olathe East 0   Olathe South 6:

On a wet and slippery night at ODAC the Falcons of Olathe South survived 6-0 over the Hawks of Olathe East.  In a huge week one rivalry match up between two of the top sunflower league squads the rain managed to shut down both offenses.  Olathe South scored the only touchdown of the game on a 74yard run by Chase Hanson.  Both teams combined for five turnovers in a sloppy game. 

Olathe East finished with 51 yards rushing on the night, while South ran for 65.  Hanson was the leading rusher in the game finishing with 74 yards and the only touchdown.  Leading the rushing attack for East was running back Ryan Woodson who finished the night with four carries for 21 yards.

“Olathe East is a great team, they played very physical and kept it interesting.  I really hope we meet them again in the playoffs on a dry field, but it definitely is still satisfying beating them.” Said South quarterback Frank Seurer about the rivalry.

* For a replay of this game check channels 3,203 in the Lawrence areas, and KSMO in the KC area.

**Top of the Crown rankings will be updated tomorrow afternoon.