In just the second season under head coach Mark Simoneau, the Shawnee Mission East Lancers have already seen a marked improvement from five straight years of finishing under .500, including four years with two wins or fewer in the years before Simoneau took over.

After the team finished with three wins last season, the Lancers matched that total midway through the season as they fired out to a 3-1 start.

Shawnee Mission East moved to 4-2 before a pair of overtime losses put a damper on the squad’s postseason hopes and its chances of matching the team’s eight wins from its most recent winning season in 2018.

But the Lancers responded last week with a 28-14 home victory over Lawrence last week to keep the team’s bounce-back season going.

“We spoke all week about starting fast, that’s what our guys did,” Simoneau said. “Our defense played great football and made key plays in key situations.  I am proud of how they competed from start to finish.”

Senior running back Nate Phillips returned to action for the first time since his 134-yard, two-touchdown rushing performance in Week 4 against Olathe North as the Lancers reached a three-game winning streak.

Phillips picked right back up where he left off as he rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown run against the Lions last week. Junior quarterback Jack Reeves, who took on a larger burden in Phillips’ absence, added another 72 rushing yards and two touchdown runs in the game. Reeves also threw for 61 yards in the game.

Simoneau is happy to have that one-two punch together in the backfield once again.

“It was great to have Nate back after quite a few games out,” Simoneau said. “Both him and Jack work well together. Nate has outstanding vision and runs extremely hard between the tackles and has broken multiple long runs this season. Jack is a tough physical runner, who we tend to get to the edges of the defense more frequently.

“Both have had multiple explosive plays this year and are outstanding football players.”

Without Phillips, Reeves had more work to do in both the rushing and passing game. It did not always show it on the scoreboard, but he performed quite well with those responsibilities.

Reeves has rushed for 1,012 yards this season with 14 rushing touchdowns to lead the Lancers in both those stats. As a passer, he’s thrown for 603 yards with eight touchdowns to four interceptions.

“He has worked very hard over the past year to develop as a passer being a first-year QB,” Simoneau said. “We devote time to the passing game in practice and he does extra work each day. He has taken advantage of his opportunities passing where we have had quite a few big plays in the passing game this season.”

Reeves has targeted senior tight end Chris Beikmann and senior wide receiver Brady Haughton in the passing game. Beikmann leads the way with 259 receiving yards and six touchdowns, while Haughton has added another 197 receiving yards and two scores.

“Both Chris and Brady spend extra time catching footballs after practice each day,” Simoneau said. “Both have tremendous work ethic and are great players.”

Of course, all of that production on offense starts up front. 

Senior left guard Anderson Wood and senior right tackle Pierson Hardy have been the cornerstones for this gritty offensive line. A trio of juniors in left tackle Gabe Wallace, center Michael English and right guard Mete Ozkan round out a group that has allowed this offense to average 5.7 rushing yards per game, even with the team’s top runner sidelined for more than half of the season. Beikmann and his blocking ability has also played a big part in the team being up to dominant with the rushing attack, while also striking at the right time with passes downfield.

“Our offensive line is a  great group that takes pride in helping our team be successful,” Simoneau said.

But with a team dedicated to chewing up yards and clock on offense, another key weapon for that style of attack has been the performance of players on the other side of the ball.

Senior defensive end Kyle Schuessler has led a ferocious front seven which has helped produce 37 tackles for loss and 16 sacks this season. Schuessler has his hands on a lot of those numbers, with him racking up 48 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and six sacks so far this season.

“Kyler has played well,” Simoneau said. “He is very disruptive and very physical presence on the field. He has also brought great leadership as a senior in our program.”

On the other side of the line is sophomore defensive end Zekiah Briones Hardgraves, who has produced his own impressive stat line of seven tackles for loss and three sacks. In between those two bookends is junior defensive tackle Brock Rider, who adds another five tackles for loss and a sack.

Those linemen have set the stage for players like junior defensive end Davis Eakes, senior linebacker Nick Crutchfield and junior cornerback Henry Stiglic to fly around and clean up the rest of the stops for this tough rush defense.

Stiglic and the rest of the secondary have also benefited from the big guys up front allowing opposing quarterbacks little time to scout the field from the pocket. The constant pressure has forced the type of plays that have allowed senior cornerback Brady Haughton to rack up four of the team’s nine interceptions this season.

The Lancers are hoping all that talent will be enough to knock off the reigning 6A champs in the regional finals. 

Shawnee Mission East (5-4) will head to Gardner Edgerton (8-1) to face the Trailblazers on Nov. 8. Gardner Edgerton earned a 27-14 home victory when these two teams battled back in Week 5.


OTHER EAST/SE KANSAS STANDOUTS

• Olathe Northwest junior running back Jaelen Douglas rushed for 257 yards and two touchdowns as the Falcons earned a 44-21 victory over Olathe South. Sophomore Brody Comfort threw for 77 yards with three touchdowns on just seven pass attempts, while also adding another 63 yards in the rushing game. Comfort’s top target was senior XXX Schlittenhard, who hauled in four catches for 57 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions. Senior Jack Porras led the team in tackles with seven, while senior Isaiah Butler finished right behind him with six tackles and two tackles for loss, including one resulting in a safety. Senior Merak Greinert intercepted the ball twice in the game, including one he returned for a pick six.
   
• Blue Valley Northwest sophomore quarterback Aidan Ihm threw for 174 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 42 yards as the Huskies won 31-12 against Shawnee Mission North. Junior running back LJ Bowens rushed for 87 yards and one touchdown run. Junior Logan Chandler led his team in receiving as he caught five passes for 84 receiving yards and one touchdown reception. Senior Sawyer Williamson led the team in tackles with 11 while senior Luke Wolverton had two of the team’s eight tackles for loss in the game. Senior Joseph Arnold intercepted two passes while senior Micah Handke recovered a fumble caused by senior Brock Heath.
   
• Blue Valley West sophomore running back Youqub Abdumalikov rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown as the Jaguars defeated Shawnee Mission West 38-7. Senior running back Tate Miller added another 81 rushing yards and two touchdown scores on the ground. Senior quarterback Tate Nagy had light work with 70 passing yards and two touchdowns on just seven pass attempts before handing his duties off to a pair of back-ups. Senior wide receiver Quin Myers led the team in receiving with three catches for 35 yards while junior Kian Lammers and senior Jack Cook each hauled in one of Nagy’s touchdown passes. Junior Brooks Bringman and senior Jack Sells tied for the team lead in tackles with six each. Senior Brayden Johnson intercepted a pass.
   
• Blue Valley North senior running back Frankie Tryban rushed for 176 yards and two touchdowns while also hauling in a 41-yard touchdown reception as the Mustangs earned an upset 34-27 road victory over De Soto. Junior quarterback Lark Anderson threw for 170 yards and three touchdowns while adding another 33 yards on the ground. Senior Dylan Sarna led the team in receiving with 72 yards, most of which he earned on a 57-yard touchdown reception for the team’s first score. Senior Gabe Watson led the team in tackles with 14.
   
• Mill Valley junior running back Reggie Reece rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns as the Jaguars racked up 410 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns in a 77-0 win over KC Harmon. Sophomores Ryan Helm and Max Piva scored two rushing touchdowns each while they combined for 135 rushing yards. Junior jenner Scobee intercepted a pass on defense.
   
• Pittsburg senior running back Stone Peery rushed for 266 yards and three rushing touchdowns as the Dragons earned a 49-18 upset victory on the road against Highland Park. Senior Carsen Nickelson led the team in tackles with eight, including two of the team’s 11 tackles for loss, while also intercepting a pass.
   
• St. James Academy senior quarterback Tyson Beashore threw for 217 passing yards and one passing touchdown while also rushing for a touchdown as the Thunder earned the 48-22 upset victory on the road against Blue Valley. Senior wide receiver Sam Niesen led the team in receiving with eight catches for 74 yards, while senior wide receiver Parker Chase added another 69 yards. Senior running back John Tujague rushed for 52 yards and two rushing touchdowns, while also hauling in three catches for 59 yards and one touchdown reception. Senior Max Requet led the team in tackles with eight, including two tackles for loss and three sacks. Seniors Ben Drewry and Connor Skahan each intercepted passes on defense.
   
• Bishop Miege senior quarterback Marco Rodriguez threw for 266 yards with one passing touchdown to one interception while also rushing for a touchdown as the Stags earned a 21-14 upset victory on the road against Louisburg. Senior wide receiver Teryn Jackson led the team in receiving with six catches for 130 yards and one touchdown reception. Senior tight end Peter Gibson added another 111 receiving yards.
   
• Atchison junior quarterback Kolton Bonnel threw for 206 yards with three passing touchdowns as the Phoenix earned a 62-12 win over Bonner Springs. Junior running back Leighton Boldridge rushed for 127 yards. Senior wide receivers JZ Kelley and Eric Smith III combined for eight catches and 175 receiving yards. Kelley also intercepted a pass on defense. Senior linebacker Miles Greenly led the team in tackles with 16 while also recovering a fumble.
   
• Tonganoxie senior running backs Alex Stevens and Tanner Hand combined for 159 rushing yards and four of the team’s six rushing touchdowns on the way to a 63-6 win over KC Schlagle. Senior quarterback Talon Langford threw for 62 yards and two touchdown passes on just seven pass attempts. Freshman Kipton Harder led the team in receiving with all of his 40 yards being on a long touchdown reception.
   
• Labette County junior running back Jamaal Jackson rushed for 416 yards and seven touchdown runs as the Grizzlies earned a 56-22 win over KC Sumner. Senior Roper Whittley and junior Tayton Claibourn tied for the team lead in tackles with 12, while senior Chris Stephens earned three of the team’s eight tackles for loss. Senior Matthew Jarman had two sack and one forced fumble, which was recovered by senior Bradley Black.
   
• St. Mary’s Colgan senior running back Noah Duncan rushed for 95 yards and two of his team’s six rushing touchdowns as the Panthers earned a 62-16 win over Horton. Junior Klayton Adamson added another 54 while scoring two rushing touchdowns, while also intercepting a pass on defense. Junior Carston Simmons thew for 80 yards and two touchdown passes, both going to sophomore wide receiver Will Schremmer. Freshman Colton Simmons led the team in tackles with 17, including a sack and a tackle for loss.
   
• Oswego junior running back Owen Jackson rushed for 116 yards and four of his team’s six rushing touchdowns in a 60-50 win over Lyndon. Senior Josh Hutchinson led the team in tackles with 17. Freshman Demitri Williamson intercepted a pass, which he returned for a pick six, and returned a kickoff back for a touchdown.
   
• Marmaton Valley senior running back/wide receiver Jaedon Granere rushed for 188 yards and scored four of his team’s six rushing touchdowns as the Wildcats earned a 76-12 win over Hartford. Senior quarterback Brayden Lawson threw for 116 yards with three touchdowns, including two to Granere. Granere was also one of four Wildcats with an interception on defense, although he was the only who returned the ball for a pick six. Freshman Ethan Lawson scored a rushing touchdown while also being one of five Wildcats who tied for the team lead in tackles with seven.
   
• Chetopa senior quarterback Lawrence Holt threw for 148 yards and a passing touchdown while also rushed for 104 yards and two of his team’s seven rushing touchdowns as the Green Hornets earned an 86-0 shutout victory over Chase. Senior running back David Cox led the team in rushing with 138 yards and three touchdown runs, while senior running back Tagg Bond added another 31 yards and two scores. Bond also had a 51-yard reception to lead his team in receiving, while senior wide receiver David Cox had 48-yard touchdown reception. Cox led the team in tackles with nine, including six tackles for loss and two sacks. Holt had two pick sixes and three of the team’s six interceptions, five of which were returned for scores.