Free State High football coach Bob Lisher recently stressed that his Firebirds only are guaranteed nine games this season. If they want more, they have to earn them.

Tonight is game No. 9. Whether a 10th is on the horizon solely depends on whether Free State wins or loses.

The Firebirds (4-4 overall, 1-1 Class 6A District 4) will play host to Washburn Rural (4-4, 1-1) at 7 tonight at Kansas University’s Memorial Stadium. A tape-delayed broadcast can be seen on Sunflower Broadband Channel 6, and a live broadcast can be heard on 1320 KLWN.

The winner secures the second state playoff spot out of District 4. Lawrence High clinched the first one with victories over Washburn Rural and Free State the last two weeks.

Tonight’s loser turns in its equipment, goes home and wonders how its 4-5 season could’ve been better.

Obviously, the Firebirds don’t want that.

“They know what’s at stake,” Lisher said. “It’s do or die now.”

And, as much as the football gods seemingly are trying to lay them to rest, the Firebirds aren’t ready to die.

Free State heads into tonight’s game decimated by a ridiculous amount of injuries. Regular starters Tyree Payne, Jeremy Bustamante and Will Malcolm aren’t expected to play for different reasons, and minor setbacks are nagging senior Cole Douglas and sophomore Brett Lisher.

Beyond that, seemingly everyone on the Firebirds has been dinged up at some point this season.

“I can’t remember a year where we’ve had this many injuries,” Bob Lisher said. “It’s just one of those years. You just can’t worry about who you don’t have available. You have to worry about what you do have to work with.”

Washburn Rural’s 17-10 overtime victory Friday over Topeka High coupled with Free State’s 21-6 loss to Lawrence set up an elimination game of sorts for the Junior Blues and Firebirds. Tonight could feel more like a state playoff game than a game preceding the playoffs.

Including the single-elimination playoffs, the winner of tonight’s game is guaranteed at least a .500 record.

“Our kids want that winning record,” Lisher said. “We’ve had some adversity this year. We’ve lost some key kids due to injury, ones we expected to make a big impact for us this season.

“Our kids are going to have to step up to the plate and get the job done.”