Overland Park ? Do you believe in miracles? Shawnee Mission East does.

Wide receiver Roy Loren caught a last-ditch pass in the end zone with only :29 on the clock and the Lancers stunned Free State High, 21-17, in the first round of the Class 6A state football playoffs.

âÂÂWe had good coverage,â Free State coach Bob Lisher said after he had spoken to his wet-eyed players following Friday nightâÂÂs game at SM South District Stadium, âÂÂbut their guy made a great play.âÂÂ

Free State appeared to have shaken the pesky Lancers (4-6), the only 6A team in the playoffs with a losing record, with 4:21 remaining when junior Will Malcolm booted a 32-yard field goal against the wind to snap a 14-14 deadlock.

But SM East started on its own 35 after the kickoff and had marched to the Free State 30 when running back Andy Relihan was thrown for a five-yard loss on third and five. Quickly, SM East called time with only 36 ticks left.

Once play resumed, the Lancers faced a fourth-and-10 situation and they went for the bundle.

Loren, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound senior, streaked down the left sideline as Free State cornerback Stanley Redwine, playing with his right hand in a cast because of a broken bone, matched him step for step.

As both players reached the end zone, Loren leaped and the 5-11, 165-pound Redwine leaped as well. For a moment, it appeared LewisâÂÂs pass had bounced away, but Loren held on to the ball and fell to the end zone grass.

As Redwine lay near him in despair, Loren jumped up, erupted into a dance and earned a 15-yard unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty that forced Matt Miller to kick a 35-yard conversion.

Free State wasnâÂÂt done, though. After the kickoff, quarterback Matt Berner connected with Dain Dillingham for 24 yards and Bijai Jones for 11 more, but time was running out and BernerâÂÂs desperation pass into the end zone with only one second remaining was intercepted by Kyle Zeller.

âÂÂFootball games donâÂÂt come down to one play,â Lisher said. âÂÂThere were tons of opportunities to make plays and they made them.âÂÂ

Actually, both teams missed several opportunities. In the first half, SM East coughed the ball up three times âÂÂ:quot; two fumbles and an interception âÂÂ:quot; but the Firebirds didnâÂÂt convert any of the gaffes into points and settled for a 7-0 halftime lead.

Then the Firebirdsâ only lost fumble of the night, a muffed punt by Dillingham, led to the Lancersâ first touchdown in the third quarter. Free State answered with an mistake-free 81-yard, 15-play drive to post a 14-7 advantage, but the Lancers came right back to go 64 yards in 12 plays to knot the count at 14-14 with 8:01 remaining.

Less than four minutes later, Malcolm converted the go-ahead field goal, then Loren made his spectacular catch and Free StateâÂÂs season ended with a 7-3 record.

âÂÂOur kids played hard,â Lisher said. âÂÂThey had a tremendous season compared to where weâÂÂve been.âÂÂ

Ironically, Free State made the playoffs last year with a 3-6 record âÂÂ:quot; the same record SM East brought into FridayâÂÂs clash.

If not for LorenâÂÂs game-winning reception, Malcolm would have been Friday nightâÂÂs hero. The 5-11 junior scored all 17 of the Firebirdsâ points with TD runs of 10 yards and one yard, two extra-point kicks and the field goal.

âÂÂWill stepped up and did a good job,â Lisher said. âÂÂHe had some nice runs.âÂÂ

Joe Aber started at tailback in place of the ailing David Allen, but Malcolm replaced Aber on the Firebirdsâ third offensive series, finishing with 46 yards in 15 carries. Allen, the teamâÂÂs leading rusher, sat out the last two games with a bruised leg.

Douglas led the Firebirds with 62 yards on six carries, all in the second half.

âÂÂWe played well,â Lisher said. âÂÂWe just didnâÂÂt finish.âÂÂ

âÂÂ:quot; Sports editor Chuck Woodling can be reached at 832-7147.