Olathe ? Jeff Meyers wasn’t eating any crow Friday night.

The Olathe East High football coach had guaranteed the Hawks would defeat Free State in Friday night’s Class 6A quarterfinal, but they didn’t.

Free State 32, Olathe East 19.

Afterward, Meyers wasn’t apologetic about the remark that quickly found its way onto the bulletin board in the Free State locker room.

“I’ll tell you what,” Meyers said. “I didn’t regret it.”

Meyers explained he made the statement for only one reason.

“I made the comment to motivate my kids after an emotional win over one of our rivals (Olathe South),” Meyers said. “It wasn’t to disrespect Free State.”

Free State, of course, used Meyers’ comment as a motivational tool, too. After the game, when the Firebirds were celebrating on the field, several of their fans were hollering about the guarantee that backfired.

“All week we were talking about it,” senior end Christian Ballard said. “We were under pressure, too, because if we’d have lost it would have been a shocker.”

Free State edged the Hawks, 33-28, earlier in the season.

“It’s difficult to beat a team a second time,” Free State coach Bob Lisher said, “but they guaranteed a win, and we came out emotional, and I think that’s why we made some early mistakes.”

Free State easily overcame those mistakes by preventing the Hawks from scoring again until late in the fourth quarter.

“It was just good defense,” said O-East running back Dee Bell, who was held to 75 yards after rambling for 220 yards against the Firebirds in the first meeting.