If a team is not going to score in five quarters of football, it might as well make it dramatic when it finally does reach the end zone.

Free State High did just that Friday night at Kansas University’s Memorial Stadium, escaping with a 6-0, home-opening victory over Olathe South with its first touchdown in more than 60 minutes of play — dating back to a season-opening 36-15 loss last week.

“On that last drive I knew it was either do or die,” FSHS quarterback Caleb Harvey said after the Firebirds improved to 1-1.

Harvey might have felt as if he in fact was going to die, when he was forced out of the game on the last drive after he vomited on the field.

Back-up quarterback Nick Witmer didn’t look like he felt much better — fumbling the snap on his very first play. Luckily for the Firebirds, a Free State player fell on the ball and helped avoid the fourth FSHS turnover.

Witmer more than made up for his bad snap on his second shot. He connected with streaking wideout Marcus Murphy for a 38-yard completion on a third-and-seven play from the Firebirds’ own 36-yard line.

“Nick came in and stepped up big time,” said senior running back Cole Douglas, who capitalized on Witmer’s big play with one of his own two downs later — rushing nearly untouched up the middle for a 22-yard, game-winning touchdown.

“Last week we had a breakdown on defense,” continued Douglas, referring to Free State’s 36-15 season-opening loss to Shawnee Mission Northwest. “But this week our defense really stepped up big and left it up to our offense to get the job done.

“Finally we did.”

Free State High senior Cole Douglas (32) slips past a pair of Olathe South defenders -- including Nate Goodman (4) -- for the game's lone score. The Firebirds blanked the Falcons, 6-0, on Douglas' 22-yard run Friday night at Kansas University's Memorial Stadium.

Free State coach Bob Lisher, who said his squad had stressed defensive success all week long, was impressed with the way his team succeeded Friday, especially in the second half when the Firebirds allowed Olathe South (1-1) only 18 offensive yards.

“I was really proud of our defense,” Lisher said. “A couple of times we gave up big plays, but we had kids who didn’t give up on them, which gave us an opportunity to line back up and play.”

That was never more true than when Falcon quarterback Allen Ramirez hooked up with Bryce Morris for a 77-yard pass play late in the first half.

Morris snagged the ball between two Firebird defenders, whose collision took them out of the play, and created what looked like an easy touchdown run.

Lisher’s son, Brett, wouldn’t let him score — running Morris down from behind at Free State’s 10.

The hustle play would pay off, because Lisher, Jamie Resseguie and Tyler Morgan came up with a huge sack of Ramirez, who then turned over the ball on downs with an incomplete pass on fourth down with 33 seconds left in the half.

“Our kids busted their tails off and made tackles,” Lisher said of a team that had problems last week stopping Ryan Torain, who scored five touchdowns in the first half.

Olathe South gained 198 offensive yards in the first half. But the Falcons squandered several scoring chances, including two missed field goals by Chris Hankins.

¢ 6Sports video: Free State come out ahead

The Firebirds looked as if they would finally break the game open in the third.

After a successful drive that took Free State inside Olathe South’s five-yard line, Lisher elected to go for it on fourth-and-four. That’s because Will Malcolm, Free State’s primary kicker, didn’t play in the game because of an infection.

Harvey sprinted right and dove headfirst toward the end zone, but ended inches short of the plane.

The Firebirds were determined to not let the same thing happen on their first scoring drive since the first half of last week.

The scene looked pretty shaky, however, when Harvey ran to the sideline to take care of his sickness.

“Actually the play before that I saw a little ‘puke’ on the ball,” Douglas said with a smile. “I don’t know if that was from him or somebody else, and then he started blowing up on the side.”

Harvey also took the moment light-heartedly.

“Man, I did that in practice a couple of times this week too,” he said laughing. “I don’t know … it’s been happening a lot when I exert myself.”

Luckily for Free State’s Witmer, he was able to keep the ball and his dinner down.

“I was worried after that snap,” he said, after botching his first play. “But at least I came back on that second one and it felt pretty good when we got the ball all the way down there.”

With a standout defensive performance, a key reserve stepping up, and the first victory of the season, Lisher said that perhaps a change in venue helped his team Friday.

“We love playing at Memorial Stadium,” Lisher said. “It’s so Free State High.”