Sunflower League officials released the 2004 football schedule, with the local highlight being the Lawrence High-Free State matchup, which will take place next Oct. 22. LHS will be the home team.

Other notables Free State will see include a home game with Olathe Northwest, a new school that’s playing a junior-varsity schedule this year, and a season-opening road game with Shawnee Mission North. In their seven years of existence, the Firebirds never have played SM North.

Olathe North, a program that has given Free State — and everyone else — fits the last seven years, is not on the Firebirds’ schedule next year.

“It’s refreshing,” FSHS coach Bob Lisher said of the schedule. “We’ve seen predominantly the same people for the past seven years. We’ve never played Shawnee Mission North, and they’re in our league, so it’ll be a game we’ll look forward to simply because we’ve never played them before.”

As far as opponents are concerned, the Lions will see the same foes as this year, except they won’t face Olathe East. Instead, they’ll play at Shawnee Mission South in the season’s fifth week. For the third straight year, Lawrence will open the season against Leavenworth.

Both city teams will face Topeka and Topeka Washburn Rural in district play.

Dates haven’t been finalized.

¢

Nothing but zeros: Lawrence High’s defense was once again in control in Friday’s 28-0 victory over Shawnee Mission East. It was the Lions’ second shutout in three weeks, following a 29-0 blanking of Olathe South Sept. 26.

The Lions last had multiple shutouts in a season in 2001, when they beat SM East, 6-0, and Topeka, 44-0.

¢

Among the best: Despite Free State’s 3-3 record, the Firebirds stand second in the Sunflower League in total offense, averaging 334 yards per game and trailing only unbeaten Olathe East. Lawrence is fourth in the league with 310 yards of total offense per game.