For several stretches Friday, Lawrence High’s defense had trouble slowing down Shawnee Mission West.

Clinging to a seven-point lead in the final minutes, the Lions asked their mostly young defense for a key stop.

With LHS football players and coaches shouting instructions from the sideline, the Lions’ defense stepped up when they were backed into their own territory and secured a 35-28 victory at SM South District Stadium.

On SM West’s final possession, the Vikings (0-4) converted on a pair of fourth downs and reached the 22-yard line with an opportunity for the game-tying score. On 4th-and-8, the 15th play of the drive, the Lions burst into the backfield and junior defensive end Eric Galbreath brought down SMW quarterback CJ Callaghan for a sack.

It was the team’s fourth — and most important — sack of the night, giving the defense plenty to smile about afterward.

“Too much adrenaline pumping through our blood to even think, honestly,” LHS junior linebacker Caleb Mondi said of the last drive. Mondi recovered a fumble in the first half and made a key stop on a first-down run play before Galbreath’s sack.

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