ShawneeDispatch.com

The team with better composure, Lawrence High, won the game Friday at Shawnee Mission North District Stadium.

Shawnee Mission North, the team that had a player who was flagged for taunting a downed receiver, lost.

The play was key to Lawrence High's winning fourth-quarter drive in a 10-3 victory over the Indians.

Spencer Scott kicked a 21-yard field goal to give LHS a 3-0 lead with 3:56 left in the first half. Moments later the Indians' speedy running back and return man O.J. Shields broke into the clear with so much room behind him on the ensuing kickoff that the scoreboard momentarily, understandably, prematurely flashed "Touchdown!"

He was caught from behind, however, and brought him down four yards shy of a touchdown - an 84-yard return.

The Indians couldn't punch it in and had to settle for Brad Remy's 22-yard field goal that tied the score, 3-3, with 3:56 left in the half.

The score remained deadlocked at 3-3 until the fourth quarter. That's when the penalty gave Lawrence new life and, ultimately, contributed to the Lions' victory.

Lions senior receiver Aaron Rea (107 receiving yards, 20 rushing yards) lay on his back, where he had been planted by a defender who hit Rea hard when he went high for an errant pass he couldn't bring in. The scoreboard said fourth-and-10 from the 23. And that's where the numbers would have stayed if not for a North player standing over Rea, pointing at him and barking. He taunted him just he like he has seen his NFL role models taunt. Out came the flag for unsportsmanlike conduct. First down. Half the distance to the goal.

A couple of Jake Green (121 rushing yards) runs later, LHS has a first-and-goal at the 1. Two plays later, Clifton Sims plowed into the end zone for a tie-breaking touchdown with 3:04 left in the game.

North, a veteran squad that went 1-8 last year, falls to 0-1 on the season. The Indians next play at 7 p.m. Friday at home against Olathe Northwest.