Talk about starting with a bang.
Free State High's football team, ranked No. 3 in the state, opens its third season tonight on the road against No. 1 Olathe North, the Class 6A three-time defending state champion.
"This is the kind of game," FSHS coach Bob Lisher said, "that if I wasn't coaching in it, I would still be there."
Kickoff for tonight's season opener for both teams is 7 p.m. at Olathe District Activities Center.
The Eagles have compiled a 34-2 record while winning back-to-back-to-back championships, including perfect 12-0 seasons in 1996 and 1997.
But it's one of the two losses -- last year's season-opening defeat to the Firebirds -- that still smarts.
How often does Olathe North talk about the 42-27 setback?
"Every day," Olathe North coach Gene Wier said. "First of all we lost the game to a better team. But we've never given up 35 points in a half before to anybody. That was very embarrassing.
"Again, Free State was the better team that night, and they're a better team this year than they were last year, no question about it."
The question is, though, is Olathe North a better team?
The Eagles were hit hard by graduation, losing 16 starters from last season's 10-2 squad -- including all-everything running back Beno Gore and his 1,358 yards.
But Olathe North does return senior quarterback Jeremy Franker, a two-year starter, and junior running back Darren Sproles, who compiled 615 yards as Gore's back-up.
"I would say Franker will have more of a role because of us throwing more this year," said Wier, entering his 18th season. "It's undetermined how much we'll run with him. I think he can run, and I know he's a bigger and stronger athlete and has that year of experience."
That's not to count out Sproles, though.
"Darren Sproles is a weapon," Lisher said. "When you get that kind of running back -- a guy who can cut 15 times in a tenth-of-a-second -- you put him behind the line that they have, as big as that line is and they can move, that's a serious offensive threat."
One of the more intriguing matchups on that line is between two guys who could be playing football on Saturdays next year -- Olathe North senior Micah Minshall (6-3, 285 pounds) and Free State senior Wayne Cobb (6-4, 245).
The two will tangle when the Eagles are on offense. Minshall plays right tackle and Cobb is the left tackle on the Firebirds' defensive line.
"They both started both ways last year so that should be a pretty good battle," Lisher said. "It should be an interesting battle. I'm sure a lot of college coaches would like to watch that battle, with those two guys going at each other."
The Firebirds have some offensive firepower of their own to counter Franker and Sproles in senior running backs Jake Lawrence and Chris Wheatley.
In last year's contest, Wheatley scored on a 29-yard touchdown run and an 86-yard kickoff return. Lawrence added a 64-yard TD reception and a 69-yard touchdown scamper.
Wier is wary of the Firebirds after watching the Free State fall sports jamboree last week.
"Defensively, I thought they were really outstanding," the Olathe North coach said. "We're concerned about moving the ball against them. Offensively, I think coach Lisher made sure we didn't see anything (during the scrimmage).
"I think those two running backs look like really, really good players. They give Free State a chance to win every game, particularly with their defense. I think they will hold opponents to 7-10 points a game and if one of those two kids breaks a long run or two, they'll be in good shape."
-- Robert Sinclair's phone message number is 832-7185. His e-mail address is rsinclair@ljworld.com.
- For a halftime update and the final score, call Access at 865-500, category 6000.
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