Perhaps the Free State High football team knew a little too much about its struggling opponent going into Friday night’s Class 6A, District 4 opener.High football team knew a little too much about its struggling opponent going into Friday night’s Class 6A, District 4 opener.

The Firebirds managed to keep the slumping Topeka High Trojans winless with a 28-7 victory at Hummer Sports Park, but it wasn’t as easy as it maybe should’ve been.

“We definitely weren’t clicking tonight,” FSHS junior Jamie Resseguie said, “and it showed.”

A sluggish opening quarter made both teams look evenly matched, despite Free State’s 4-3 record and Topeka’s 0-7 mark. After turnovers, penalties and three-and-outs galore for both teams, there justifiably was no score after one quarter. Neither team really deserved any points.

“They shouldn’t have been sluggish,” FSHS coach Bob Lisher said. “Whether it was because they had no school today, or they knew Topeka was 0-6 or whatever, it doesn’t matter. We don’t live on excuses.”

Eventually, the Firebirds righted the ship, combining a bruising ground game and a solid passing attack to overwhelm the Trojans. Free State learned that its most reliable option for yardage wasn’t through its plethora of running backs, but rather Caleb Harvey’s arm and Dain Dillingham’s hands.

An 11-play, 89-yard drive in the second quarter was fueled by four passes Dillingham’s way. He had 57 receiving yards on that drive alone, including a 10-yard jumpball catch for a touchdown.

Then, like magic, Free State clicked.

Just 1:33 later, the Firebirds scored again on a Resseguie touchdown, giving them a 14-0 halftime lead. It was Resseguie’s second touchdown of the season, and he led the Firebirds ground game Friday with 55 yards on just four carries.

free state high's Dain Dillingham, right, leaps over Topeka High's T.C. Scott for a touchdown pass in the second quarter. The Firebirds beat the Trojans, 28-7, Friday in Topeka.

“We needed to get a fire going,” said Resseguie, who has 211 rushing yards this season. “That’s what we did. We had a couple people step up and make plays.”

The Firebirds’ defense again was effective, shutting out Topeka High until late in the fourth quarter. Even when the Trojans were within a yard of the end zone in the third quarter, the Firebirds made a big fourth-down stop, before driving 99 yards downfield for a touchdown and a 21-0 lead.

Senior Marcus Murphy rounded out the Firebirds scoring with a 14-yard touchdown reception later in the third quarter.

Topeka’s lone score came on a 12-yard reception by T.C. Scott with 3:01 to play.

“It’s always nice to have a goose egg on the board,” Resseguie said. “But when they slide one in like that, there’s nothing you can do.”

As for the offense, Harvey was the glue, completing eight of 13 passes for 131 yards, rushing for 35 more and throwing no interceptions. Dillingham had five catches for 89 yards and also chipped in an interception on defense. Senior Jimmy Lottes had a key interception, too, when Topeka was threatening to score late.

All in all, it was a successful start for the Firebirds in the district opener. Friday, they’ll face Lawrence High, the other unbeaten team in district play. The top two teams in the four-team district earn an invitation to the 6A state playoffs.

“We needed that win,” Lisher said of the victory over the Trojans. “I’m pleased that we got the win, but I’m not very pleased with the intensity and emotion we played with tonight.

“We’re only guaranteed nine games, and we’ve played seven. If we want to play more, we have to earn it.”