Each Friday this fall, the Johnson County Post will cover one local high school football game. Tell us which game we should cover by emailing us at stories@johnsoncountypost.com.
Sparked by the return of a stalwart defensive lineman who was also voted the evening’s Homecoming king, the Shawnee Mission East Lancers equaled their entire 2024 victory total with a 49-21 win over the Shawnee Mission North Bison on Friday night.
Senior defensive tackle Brock Rider led the Lancers (5-1) out of the inflatable tunnel to fire up his teammates in his season debut after being sidelined the first five games with a knee injury.
On the game’s opening drive, with the 280-pound Rider on the defensive line, the Bison (0-6) committed back-to-back false starts and were forced to punt. With the Bison backed up in their own territory, the Lancers began the night at midfield en route to a 12-play touchdown drive on their first possession.
“He (Rider) has invested so much to be a great football player and I’m not talking about this season,” said Lancers coach Mark Simoneau. “I’m talking about, really, his entire life. It means so much to him (to play).”
Lancers quarterback Jack Reeves capped that opening drive with a four-yard touchdown run, and the Lancers built a 28-0 first-half lead before the Bison scored.
The Bison’s only touchdown in the first half came at the 3:08 mark of the second quarter, a three-yard pass reception by sophomore wide receiver Carter Middleton.
Reeves also cited Rider’s return as a big deal.
“Having him back on the field is just a presence,” said Reeves. “It boosts our morale. He disrupts up front and he’s just a dog. That’s basically it.”
Big night for SM East quarterback
The Lancers responded to the Bison’s first touchdown by adding one more of their own before the end of the half. Reeves, who exploded for a 72-yard touchdown run earlier in the half, again broke free for a 51-yard scamper.
“On some of the runs, I didn’t get touched, which was just amazing,” said Reeves. “When I’m asked to run to the right and I keep running right and not get touched, I can’t ask for anything better than that. It was a great job up front by our line.”
Reeves’s 51-yard run just before the half gave the Lancers a 35-7 halftime lead and topped their 34 points-per-game scoring average this season.
Reeves, who entered the game with an average of 204 rushing yards per game, finished with 212 yards rushing and four touchdowns on the night.
Through the air, Reeves completed four of six passes for 61 yards and a touchdown. It was his fourth TD toss this season. Last week, in the Lancers’ victory over Lawrence, Reeves threw only one pass in the game and completed it for nine yards.
SM East getting healthy
Rider, also one of the Lancers team captains, rotated in and out on defense in the opening half.
“Brock (Rider) played mainly in the first half, getting his legs underneath him and playing in his first game,” said Simoneau, who’s in his third season as the Lancers head coach. “Our defense battled and I was proud of the way they played.”
On the first play of the second half, it appeared that the Lancers would extend their halftime lead on an apparent 73-yard touchdown run by Thomas Vanice. But Vanice dropped the ball when he attempted to extend his arm over the goal line.
In the first half, Vanice was on the receiving end of Reeves’ only TD toss. Vanice’s reception was only two plays after senior linebacker Davis Eakes returned an interception to the Bison 34.
In the Lancers’ only loss this season, 56-21, on Sept. 19 against Mill Valley, Rider was one of three defensive starters out of action that night because of injuries. Three offensive Lancer starters were also sidelined in that contest and the 21 points by the Lancers marked a season low.
Who’s next?
Next week, the Lancers will try to keep rolling with a road game at Olathe West.
Meanwhile, the Bison will try to break into the victory column against Lawrence on Oct. 16.
More images from Friday’s game:
