When most high school football fans think of Olathe South, they think of a wide-open offense that leads the Sunflower League in passing yards every year.
Free State knows better.
"There's a little bit of a fallacy to that," FSHS coach Bob Lisher said, "in the fact that Olathe South rushed the ball for 200-some yards against us last year. We prepared all week for the pass and they came out and had more rushing yards (212) than passing yards (85).
"This year we kind of changed it up a little bit. We're going to do our best to defense the run and maybe pressure them into making some throws that they're not ready to make."
The Firebirds (0-1 overall, 0-1 league) will play host to the Falcons (1-0, 1-0) tonight at Haskell Stadium. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
Despite losing three-year starter Zach Dyer, now a freshman quarterback at Kansas University, Olathe South still managed 276 passing yards in last week's 54-20 win over Shawnee Mission East.
In his first varsity start, junior quarterback Travis Jackson connected on 13 of 23 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown.
"Travis Jackson is a very accurate passer," Lisher said. "I don't see any drop-off -- as far as a high school football game -- between him and Zach Dyer. I think they're both very accurate.
"Travis appears to read the defenses very well and hits the open receiver."
Comparing Jackson to Dyer -- who completed 103 of 182 passes for 1,246 yards and seven TDs during his senior season -- is high praise indeed.
But not necessary.
"I don't think you ever fill Zach Dyer's shoes," second-year Olathe South coach Mark Littrell said. "I think Travis is trying to come in and create his own identity, do the things he's comfortable with. He's not trying to be Zach Dyer, he's trying to be Travis Jackson."
Actually, he could have been Samuel L. Jackson last week.
Olathe South bolted to 37-0 lead in the first half, sparked by junior wide receiver-defensive back Adam Jensen's two interception returns for touchdowns. Jensen, an all-league selection last year, finished with three pass thefts.
"Yeah, it was a pretty big win for us," Littrell said. "It's big any time you can win your opener, and we haven't done that around here for a while."
The Firebirds are trying to do just that. Free State -- which defeated Olathe North, 42-27, in last year's home opener -- was 4-0 in home games last season, but 4-1 at Haskell after losing its "away" game against Lawrence High.
"I think they kind of understand that we were decent at home last year and they want to continue that trend," Lisher said.
The Falcons also expect a tough test in the Firebirds.
"I know they're awful darn good," Littrell said. "They're definitely one of the better teams in the state and definitely one of the top teams in the league. I think they're a sound defensive team and an explosive offensive team. They have the type of personnel on offense that they can score and a good, strong defense. I really believe that."
Free State senior linemen Thomas Champion (ankle) and Jimmy Hahn (shoulder) have been slowed by injuries, but both will start tonight. Lisher didn't make any lineup changes this week.
-- Robert Sinclair's phone message number is 832-7185. His e-mail address is rsinclair@ljworld.com.
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