Gallery: Varsity Football Defeats SM South 35-14 on Homecoming

By Paige Bean, Clara Peters, Alex Sajna, Katie Cook, Zac Russell, and Tyler Russell

September 23, 2024

On Friday Sept. 20, the Lancers were presented with a Great American Rivalry Series Championship Trophy to celebrate their win against SM South at the SMSD South Stadium. Junior Jack Reeves was named “Most Valuable Player” and senior Carter Rose was named the top senior student athlete from the program and received the Scholar Athlete Award and a scholarship. Reeves scored one touchdown, seniors Nate Phillips and Chris Beikmann both had two. Senior Calvin Duske scored every field goal. Reeves also had 241 total yards accumulated from rushing, passing and receiving, causing him to have the highest number of total yards on the team on Friday. Phillips followed with 99 and Beikmann with 78.

At halftime, the homecoming royalty winners were announced. The court consisted of eleven seniors nominated by their class that were then voted on by the entire student body. The winners were Mae Bledsoe, Rachel Condon and Porter Stein.

The varsity football team’s next game will be Friday, Sept. 27 against Olathe North at the Olathe District Activity Center at 7 p.m.

The Lancers now sport a 2-1 record and the Olathe North Eagles record now stands at 1-2.

Check out this gallery on Harbie Photo to purchase pictures from this event by clicking the link below:

9.20.24 Varsity Football vs. SM South on Homecoming

Seniors Lukas Lowry, Quinn McCarthy, Cole Lawrence, Walt Jones, Jack McClelland and Michael Winter march into the stadium to kick off the Homecoming football game. Photo by Zac Russell
Senior Landon Romero runs onto the field waving one of the SM East flags to hype up the crowd. Photo by Zac Russell
Senior Elle Tollefson pats her hands on the front of the student section to create a drumroll sound with the other students in the front row. Tollefson was one of the 11 nominated seniors for Homecoming court. Photo by Paige Bean
Senior Nate Phillips walks to hand the ball back to the referee after scoring a touchdown. Photo by Zac Russell
Senior Pierson Hardy congratulates senior Nate Phillips after scoring the first touchdown of the game. Photo by Paige Bean
The Lancer student section chants “build the banana. Build, build the banana” as a part of the “Bananas” chant not long after East’s second touchdown of the night was scored. Photo by Katie Cook
Junior Jack Reeves outruns SM South defenders for a gain of 30 yards before he was tackled at the 20 yard line. Photo by Katie Cook
Sophomore Adam Talbi grabs a drink after a first quarter of the game. Photo by Tyler Russell
Senior Rachel Condon waves as she walks with her parents to her place in the candidate lineup where she would be crowned as a winner. Photo by Clara Peters
Senior Mae Bledsoe smiles at the student section as she walks to her place for the Homecoming candidate lineup. Bledsoe was later crowned as Homecoming Royalty. Photo by Clara Peters
Homecoming candidate senior Parker Paben celebrates with the Lancer Dancers after the ceremony. Photo by Clara Peters
Senior Maggie Condon poses with her sign she made for her cousin senior Rachel Condon. Photo by Clara Peters
Senior Parker Paben hugs senior Mae Bledsoe when she is announced as one of the homecoming royalty. Photo by Tyler Russell
Senior Nate Phillips dances into the end zone for the Lancers fourth touchdown of the game. Photo by Katie Cook
Senior Brooks Moore catches a pass from junior Jack Reeves to get closer to the end zone. Photo by Katie Cook
Junior Jack Reeves runs to get a five yard rush for the first-down. Photo by Tyler Russell
The defensive line sets up to stop SM South on a fourth down. Photo by Tyler Russell
Senior Annabelle Covell looks to the student section after singing the school song with the other cheerleaders and football players. Photo by Paige Bean
Sophmores Olivia Stewart and Vanessa Blades sing the school song after the win against SM South. Photo by Tyler Russell
The SM east crowd watches the after game performance by the SM East marching band and Lancer Dancers. Photo by Tyler Russell

About the Contributors

Paige Bean, Print Photo Editor

Saving the best for last, senior Paige Bean is entering her final year on staff as the Head Print Photo Editor. Paige has been on staff since her freshman year and taking photos since she was born, thanks to her father. When she’s not in the journalism room, Paige is the Student Body President, a member of Kemper Teen Arts Council, President of the Just Like You Films Youth Advisory Board, and more. Paige hopes to study filmmaking next year and continue creating media.

Clara Peters, Print Photo Editor

Senior Clara Peters is so excited for her fourth year on the Harbinger staff as a Head Print Photo Editor. When she’s not editing photos, designing photostories, or holding her camera, you’ll find her hanging out with friends, walking her dogs or listening to music. Outside of Harbinger, she holds the roles of a SHARE Exec and Link Leader. Peters can’t wait to lead this year’s photography staff with the other editors!

Alex Sajna, Video Editor

Working on his third year on Harbinger staff, senior Alex Sajna is thrilled to lead the video team as a Video Editor and take pictures as a Photographer. Besides Harbinger, Alex runs cross country and track, takes AP classes and works part time. When he’s not in the J-room, you can find Alex working on his car, making up a cross country practice late at night, or hanging out with family and friends.

Katie Cook, Photo Mentor

Starting her third year on staff, senior Katie Cook is thrilled to be working as a photo mentor. Katie is excited to be back on the sidelines shooting Friday night football, even if it means suffering in thousand-degree weather or shivering out in the rain. When she is not cropping photos in the backroom, she spends her free time listening to music, eating Italian food, traveling, reading or watching bad rom-com movies.

Zac Russell, Promotion Manager

Entering his second year on the Harbinger staff, junior Zac Russell is fired up to be a part of this awesome team as a photo mentor. When Zac isn’t procrastinating his Harbinger homework or dashing around town to take photos, you can find him conducting shenanigans with his friends, ordering in the nearest Chipotle line, or jamming out to Morgan Wallen! Zac can’t wait to learn many new ways to capture the best photos and be a part of this awesome staff!

Tyler Russell, Photo Editor

After spending hundreds of hours on photoshop, junior Tyler Russell is pumped to continue his journey on The Harbinger as an Assistant Photo Editor. On a typical day, you’ll find him helping the other photographers or scrambling to finish student life photos on time while editing in the library. When Tyler isn’t slouched on the library spinny chair, you’ll find him playing tennis, baking anything he can find on pinterest, or searching through Disney artifacts. Despite the stressful moments, Harbinger has become a family to look forward to every day.