LHS, Free State aim to limit big plays in showdown

The winner of the battle of big plays should win the Free State High-Lawrence High football game.

Just ask either coach.

“In these games, it’s all about emotion and discipline,” FSHS coach Bob Lisher said. “We can’t allow big plays. It’s just a matter of who can eliminate big plays and who can make big plays.”

The annual city showdown at 7:30 tonight at Haskell Stadium features two teams with explosive offenses that score in different ways.

The Lions (5-2, 1-0) have two of the best running backs in the state, but have a capable passing game. The Firebirds (6-1, 1-0) have a big-play passing game aided by an underrated run game, evidenced by its 317 rushing yards in last week’s 42-7 win against Topeka High.

Expect some scoring, and lots of it.

“It’s one of those days when we have to control the football somehow,” LHS coach Dirk Wedd said. “They’re like a ticking time bomb. There’s always a chance for a big play in there.”

Both teams have combined for 15 touchdowns of more than 50 yards this year six from FSHS and nine from LHS.

LHS averages 27 points a game, while FSHS comes in at 25 ppg, good for third and fifth in the Sunflower League. In terms of total yards, the Lions are behind only Olathe North, piling up 386 yards a game, 320 of it coming on the ground. Free State is more balanced, gaining 357 yards a game off of 188 passing, 168 rushing.

Firebird senior quarterback Matt Berner has the league’s highest QB rating at 92.85. He’s passed for 1,161 yards and 14 touchdowns this year, both school records.

His targets primarily senior Bijai Jones (29 catches, 443 yards) and junior Dain Dillingham (20 catches, 439 yards) could give the LHS secondary fits. Dillingham has had three touchdowns this year over 54 yards, while Jones had a 62-yard score.

They’re a big play waiting to happen, though Dillingham is nursing a sprained ankle. He should play tonight.

“They’ve got a good quarterback and two tremendous athletes in Bijai and Dillingham. We’ll have our hands full,” Wedd said. “Our two cornerbacks are 5-6, 5-7 if we lied. That’s a huge concern, but football isn’t played with two players. It’s played with 11.”

The Lions will counter with their two workhorses, senior running backs Brandon McAnderson and Chris Fulton.

McAnderson has racked up 1,214 yards this season and is coming off a 224-yard game in last week’s 41-7 victory against Topeka Washburn Rural. He’s a bruiser who can also bust a long one, with four touchdowns this year of at least 50 yards.

Fulton’s the burner. He has had three touchdowns of at least 50 yards and has 816 yards this season, averaging 10 yards a carry.

“We haven’t seen a backfield with that much ability,” Lisher said. “O-North’s got (Jim) Bouknight, but to have two backs that can go all that way at any time, that’s a huge weapon.”

The offenses are nearly opposites, but the defenses look very similar on paper. FSHS allows 17 points a game; LHS 18. Each allows about 150 passing yards a game, but LHS holds the slight edge in run defense, 134 ypg to Free State’s 155 ypg.

LHS holds a 3-2 edge in the series, but FSHS won last year’s game, 16-0.

“You always have to be concerned about that,” Wedd said of extra adrenaline generated in the city showdown. “Sometimes kids put too much importance on a particular game. No matter what anybody says, it’s still one game.”

The winner has the inside track to the district title and a first-round home playoff game.

“It feels like we’ve (the coaches) been practicing,” Lisher said. “Just the fact that you have to put in a lot of time to prepare for a game like this wears you out a little.”