There was no need to second-guess Friday. No need to get upset, no need to wonder where it went so wrong.

It was all too clear.

The Free State High football team ran into an Olathe East squad stronger than it’s been all season, more poised, more prepared and more willing to convince everyone in its path that the Hawks should be the favorite to win the state title later this month.

The Firebirds were convinced after a 55-16 victory at the Olathe District Activities Center.

“They’re the favorite in my minds,” FSHS senior Dain Dillingham said. “You try to stop their run, and they pass. You try to stop their pass, and they run. They’re very well-balanced.

“I think that’d probably be a safe bet.”

Before the Firebirds (5-5) could reach the end zone, Olathe East had reached it six times. Before the Firebirds finally forced the Hawks to punt, all but 13 seconds of the game was in the books. And before the Firebirds knew what hit them, their season was done, and O-East was looking to next week’s state quarterfinal matchup with Blue Valley North.

Olathe East (10-0) had 10 offensive drives Friday — eight touchdowns, one missed field goal and one last-minute punt.

There just was no stopping the Hawks.

“Olathe East is a very good football team,” FSHS coach Bob Lisher said. “Sometimes you just have to acknowledge that.”

Free State high coach Bob Lisher and FSHS players, from left, Mike Goble, Philip Weinmaster and Nick Green, watch the final quarter of their season. The Firebirds were crushed by undefeated Olathe East, 55-16, Friday night at Olathe District Activities Center.

Free State’s game plan coming into Friday was understandable: Stop Olathe East standout running back Andre Jones, who punished the Firebirds for 217 rushing yards when the teams met Sept. 26. Olathe East won that game, 40-14.

The Firebirds did OK, though Jones managed 146 yards on 15 carries Friday.

But Olathe East and sophomore quarterback Derek Miller provided a spectacular aerial assault to counteract the FSHS defensive scheme. O-East — Miller, mostly — completed 14 of 17 passes for 325 yards and four touchdowns. The main option was Tyler Mills, who had 131 receiving yards. In all, three Hawks had more than 70 yards receiving.

Free State had just one, senior tight end Tyler Morgan, who had 100 yards on catches of 29 and 71 yards. FSHS quarterback Caleb Harvey had 139 yards passing, but completed just five of 20 passes thanks to a stingy O-East secondary.

“We didn’t make some plays we needed to make, and they’re good athletes,” Lisher said. “If you don’t make those plays, they’re going to score a bunch of points.”

It wasn’t until the second half that Free State got on the scoreboard. Down 41-0, the Firebirds went 81 yards on five plays — most from the Harvey-to-Morgan reception — and scored when junior Jamie Resseguie found the corner of the end zone on a four-yard carry.

free state high running back Cole Douglas, center, drives the ball against Olathe East. The Hawks beat the Firebirds, 55-16, in the Class 6A state playoffs Friday in Olathe.

Then, down 55-8, Resseguie added a one-yard run late in the fourth quarter.

But the game was long over before either of Resseguie’s scores. The Firebirds, decimated by injuries and overwhelmed by one of the state’s top teams, finished with a 5-5 record. Following their win in Week Three, they alternated wins and losses the rest of the season.

That in mind, they were due for a loss Friday. Olathe East simply did its part to let the pattern painfully play out.

“It’s been one of those years,” Lisher said. “We’ve just got to congratulate Olathe East. They’re a very good football team, and they have a load of talent.”