Overland Park ? Two words uttered by Shawnee Mission South athletic director Bill Stiegemeier made Free State High football coach Bob Lisher want to do a cartwheel.

What did Stiegemeier say?

Asked Thursday about the grass at SM South District Stadium, Stiegemeier replied: “It’s good.”

That’s all Lisher wanted to hear prior to tonight’s Class 6A district playoff game between the Firebirds and SM East at the SM South facility.

“We haven’t played on grass in a while,” Lisher said. “We’ve played on mud.”

To tell the truth, Free State probably should have received a mud-splattered plaque for its runner-up district finish. Three weeks ago, the Firebirds toppled Topeka High, 42-7, on a Haskell Stadium field that was beginning to turn tacky.

A week later, Lawrence High outscored Free State, 42-26, in a quagmire, and it was more of the same last week in the Firebirds’ 20-12, come-from-behind win at Washburn Rural.

“Washburn Rural,” Lisher said, “was as bad as Haskell was.”

Free State (7-2) will be meeting the only team in the 6A playoffs with a losing record. SM East is 3-6 and won its district despite dropping its finale to SM South, 35-34, last Friday.

However, Free State probably won’t have leading rusher David Allen for the second straight week. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Allen, who also plays linebacker, has a bruised leg.

“He hasn’t practiced all week and it’s very doubtful he’ll play,” Lisher said on Thursday. “He’s one of the heart-and-soul members of our team. He’s such a competitor.”

Joe Aber, a 6-1, 195-pound senior, will replace Allen on offense, while junior Ryne Price will plug the gap on defense.

Meanwhile, the Firebirds might have to rely more on their passing game. Senior quarterback Matt Berner has thrown 17 touchdown passes and has the highest quarterback rating in the league. Free State has two quality receivers in sure-handed Bijai Jones and the fleet Dain Dillingham.

SM East features a similar offense with a workhorse tailback in Collin Cooper, the league’s second-highest rated QB in Paul Lewis and talented receivers Kyle Zeller and Roy Loren.

“Cooper is not the fastest running back, but he’s shifty and strong,” Lisher said. “And their quarterback can make big plays. That’s what we have to avoid.”

SM East may have the worst record of any team to reach the 6A playoffs, but none of the Lancers’ six losses have been by more than two touchdowns. Lawrence High handed the Lancers their most lopsided loss (21-7) on Oct. 11.

Notes

• Free State fans will sit on the east side at SM South District Stadium. Passes won’t be accepted. Tickets cost $4 for adults and $3 for students. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
• If Free State wins, the Firebirds probably would have a home game next Friday. If both Lawrence High and Free State have home games next Friday, the Firebirds will play at KU’s Memorial Stadium.
• If Free State wins, the next foe would almost certainly be state powerhouse Olathe North, one of two teams ” Lawrence High is the other ” to knock off the Firebirds this season.
• SM East isn’t the first team to make the playoffs with a 3-6 record. Free State did it last year.