Lancers put in most balanced performance of season, will face major test in Lawrence Friday

David Stewart cheered his teammates on from the sidelines as the Lancers wrapped up a 41-21 victory over Olathe East.

SM East linebacker and running back David Stewart was pumped — and with good reason.

After playing on both side of the ball for three quarters over which the Lancers imposed their will on the Olathe East Hawks, he was getting to watch the Lancers’ second team keep the streak of success going.

“Yes!” he screamed as the Lancers defense stuffed Olathe East’s back behind the line of scrimmage. “Three and out every time!”

Because even as the Lancers were waiting out the clock to seal a 41-21 victory over the Hawks — and in doing so secure the first sweep of Olathe high schools in Sunflower League history — Stewart wanted to keep the emotions high.

“We got fired up, and that was key,” Stewart said after the win. “We started out a little slow in the first half, but the sideline was cheering us on, getting us pumped. And we came out flying around after that.”

With the halfway point of the regular season behind them, the undefeated SM East football team has established itself as the team to beat in the Sunflower League. Friday’s Homecoming trouncing of Olathe East put the 5-0 Lancers squarely atop the standings, and demonstrated that, when their balanced offensive attack is clicking, it’s just about impossible to keep them out of the endzone.

Quarterback Jordan Darling passed for one touchdown to David Sosna, and then ran the ball in himself twice more. Running back Patrick Blackburn notched the night’s other two touchdowns.

But coach Chip Sherman knows the Lancers face perhaps their toughest challenge of the year thus far when they head to Lawrence next week to face a 4-1 Free State team led by highly touted quarterback Kyle McFarland.

“They’ve got a solid team,” Sherman said. “That’s going to be a tough task. They’re an awful good team. But we’re balanced, and we need to stay balanced. That’s the only way you can stay successful.”

Video wrap up from Lancer dad Brian Libeer is below:

Patrick Blackburn polished off a 25-yard run for a touchdown before the first half ended.

Quarterback Jordan Darling again factored heavily into the Lancers’ victory, passing for one touchdown and running in for two himself.

Coach Chip Sherman knows next week’s game against Free State will be one of the year’s biggest tests.

A Lancers fan fought off the September chill in an SM East Snuggie, which apparently, exists.