The way Olathe East coach Jeff Meyers sees it, Free State senior fullback Jake Lawrence is receiving the short end of the stick.
"If it wasn't for Darren Sproles at Olathe North, people would be saying, 'Look at Jake Lawrence. Wow, that's awesome.' He's averaging almost 200 yards a game and not too many backs in the Sunflower League have done that," Meyers said. "But he's playing this year with another kid who's averaging almost 300 yards a game. Otherwise, people would be looking at Jake Lawrence as the man in Sunflower League."
Meyers and his Hawks will get to see Lawrence up close and personal tonight when Free State plays host to Olathe East in a league game. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Haskell Stadium.
Chances are tonight's game won't be anything like the Firebirds' last home game against an Olathe school.
Two weeks ago Free State (2-1 overall, 1-1 Sunflower League) was involved in a shootout with Olathe South, clipping the Falcons, 56-45. Olathe East (1-2, 1-1), on the other hand, is allowing a mere 16 points a game while surrendering a league-low 186.7 yards per outing.
The Hawks held off the Firebirds, 9-7, last year at the Olathe District Activities Center.
"I've predicted low-scoring games that turned into high-scoring games and I've predicted high-scoring games that were low-scoring games," Free State coach Bob Lisher said. "That's why you play them because you're never quite sure."
The Firebirds are first in the Sunflower League in total offense (455.7 yards), second in rushing offense (319.7) and third in passing offense (136). Free State also is scoring an average of 35 points a game, second-best in the league.
"They're an extremely powerful offensive team. They're averaging 400-some yards a game and scoring 35 points a game. We haven't scored 35 points total all year," Meyers quipped.
The Hawks have struggled on offense so far, gaining only 199.3 yards an outing (10th in the league) and scoring a minuscule 25 points all season.
Just for the record, Free State's Lawrence is averaging 219.3 yards of total offense a game and scored 30 of his 54 points against Olathe South alone.
"We're not scoring many points," Meyers said. "Our offense is struggling and our defense has been making personnel changes. The stability we're used to hasn't been there. We're having to try and take baby steps to improve overall as a team. That's what we're trying to focus on.
"This time of year you would like to focus on taking some bigger steps, not baby steps."
Olathe East also has been hampered by injuries, playing without seven starters in last week's 21-14 win over Shawnee Mission East, including two-way starter James Lewis (hamstring) and last year's starting quarterback Casey Asbury (elbow).
While Lewis -- who is expected to play tonight -- watched from the sideline last week, Olathe East junior fullback Justin Stark gained 101 yards on the ground.
"He's a hard blocker and a hard runner," Lisher said. "He's very tough to tackle, not because he's going to give you any moves, he's just powerful. That's pretty much Olathe East's trademark -- just come at you and say, 'Stop us.'
"Our defense needs to step up and do that."
After a slow start, the Firebirds' defense seems to be turning things around.
Although ranked seventh in the league in rushing defense (187 yards), 10th in passing defense (148) and ninth in total defense (335), Free State held Shawnee Heights to 156 yards in last Friday's 28-12 win at Wetter Field.
The Firebirds also are eighth in the Sunflower League in scoring defense (26.3 points), but the Thunderbirds' second touchdown came on a blocked punt.
Speaking of which ...
"We're making progress on offense and defense, but we've got to shore up our special teams a little bit too," Lisher said, "because in a tight defensive game those things are critical. Last week we had a punt blocked, had another one tipped and fumbled a couple of punt returns. Those things we have to clean up this week."
Free State also is hoping to clean up its record against Olathe East. The Firebirds have never defeated the Hawks.
"We take a great deal of pride in playing hard every week no matter who we're playing, but it adds a little bit that we've yet to beat these guys. We're 0-2," Lisher said. "This team ought to have the opportunity to say that they finally got over the hump against Olathe East."
Injuries: Senior nose guard Shaun Flynn (second-degree concussion) won't play tonight and senior lineman Jeremiah Feurt (ankle) won't start, but might play. Senior cornerback Tay Ogunnowo (shin contusion) and junior cornerback Frankie Noyola (knee) both are questionable.
-- Robert Sinclair's phone message number is 832-7185. His e-mail address is rsinclair@ljworld.com.
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