Free State High football coach Bob Lisher isn’t fooled by Olathe North’s less-than-spectacular 3-2 record this season.

How could he be? It’s still Olathe North, the state’s most dominant football team of the last decade.

Besides, the Eagles’ two losses this year were by a combined six points.

“They’ve had trouble reaching the end zone,” Lisher said. “But they’ve kept people out of the end zone, too. It’s very difficult to score on them.”

Free State will get its crack at the defending Class 6A state champion at 7 tonight at Kansas University’s Memorial Stadium. A live broadcast will be on KLWN 1320, and a delayed telecast will be at 10:30 p.m. on Sunflower Broadband Channel 6.

But, as Lisher said, it won’t be easy. The most O-North has given up in a game is 21 points, which happened last week in a 21-16 loss to Lawrence High.

The Eagles’ other loss was Sept. 4 to Shawnee Mission North. That score was 7-6.

One thing the Firebirds (3-2) have going for them, though, is a healthy squad. With senior Will Malcolm close to 100 percent after missing time at the start of the season because of a staph infection, the Firebirds have a well-rounded offense that they hope gives a strong O-North defense fits.

Malcolm, who has 47 carries for 361 yards this season, isn’t Free State’s only offensive weapon. The senior duo of quarterback Caleb Harvey and wide receiver Dain Dillingham also has been effective. Dillingham has 20 catches for 422 yards this season.

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“Caleb is doing a great job of running the offense,” Lisher said. “They’re all going to have their hands full with Olathe North’s defense, though.”

Free State’s defense will have to stop running back Justin Gore. Just a junior, Gore is second in the Sunflower League with 703 rushing yards. Last week, LHS clamped him down to just 76 yards on 20 carries.

“You have to play solid defense and not let Gore get his 150-200 yards,” Lisher said. “But you can’t focus solely on him.”

As Lawrence High learned. The Eagles were forced to pass the ball after Gore was smothered, and went 13-of-25 for 120 yards, thanks in part to solid pass protection by a physical O-North offensive line.

“They’re really dependent on Gore,” Lisher said. “But in the last couple of weeks, they really opened up their offense.”

Next week, the Firebirds will play their last road game of the regular season at Topeka High.