This year, Free State High football coach Bob Lisher is not as concerned with where his team finishes as much as how his Firebird squad starts.

After the Firebirds lost their first five games a year ago, Lisher is hoping his team can put together a run similar to its late-season surge in 2004.

“There was no comparison between the team we were,” Lisher said, “and the team we were at the end.”

The Firebirds won three of their final five contests, earning a playoff berth where they lost in overtime to Shawnee Mission West.

“The beginning of the year we started out kind of rough, but the second half we came out strong,” senior wide receiver Nick Ayre said. “We just have to keep that rolling through this year.”

All players reported to practice Monday except for Lisher’s son, Brett, who was in North Dakota playing for the Lawrence Raiders baseball team.

Lawrence High

Coach Dirk Wedd was happy with the conditioning of his players in opening workouts.

“We ran our half-mile this morning and had quite a few kids make it,” Wedd said. “Overall, we’re in pretty good team shape.”

Seventy-six players arrived for the two practices Monday.

“Nobody likes two-a-days,” running back Nathan Hickey said, “but everybody loves coming back to play football.”

All players participated except for quarterback Brian Heere, who is a Raider, too.

The Lions return 17 starters from a year ago.

“We have an opportunity to be a pretty good football team,” Wedd said. “We’re coming off a 5-6 season, so we have a lot to prove.”

Hickey said the Lions had the players to be successful.

“We have a lot of starters and a lot of talent, but we had a lot of talent the year before,” Hickey said. “We have the opportunity – we just need to get it done.”