Overland Park ? The clock expired and the tears began to flow. Kyle Weinmaster and Andy Petz, two born winners on a team jam-packed with them, reflexively put their arms around each other, their heads down.

It was over. The game, their season as teammates on a dominant team, and their high school football careers. It was a sad moment.

Free State High finally faced a better football team, losing to unbeaten Shawnee Mission West, 31-14, in Friday night’s 6A state semifinal game.

The game, played on a colder-than-a-witch’s-heart night, didn’t go Free State’s way, but the season did. The Firebirds finished 11-1 and entertained their fans on a weekly basis with equal parts speed and grit.

“We beat a great team,” said Shawnee Mission West quarterback/safety Blake Lawrence, the state’s best football player and a Nebraska recruit. “I know a lot of guys on that team. They have great pride in what they do. We know they’re a great team, and we know they made a statement this year.”

Lawrence, who played defense exclusively in the first half, injured his shoulder the previous week against Lawrence High.

Friday’s game, tied 14-14 at the half, changed abruptly once the speedy, strong, confident Lawrence took over at quarterback in the second half.

“I didn’t take any reps at quarterback this week,” Lawrence said. “Coach looked at me in the locker room and made eye contact and said, ‘Are you ready to go?’ I said, ‘Yes, sir.’ After working hard, I knew I wanted to play with my guys and get it done in the second half.”

In doing so, Lawrence put an end to the careers of a number of Free State seniors who will be missed by the coaches who taught them, the parents who cheered for them and the student body that took pride in the way they represented their school.

Players such as:

¢ Petz, who repeatedly delivered the sort of fly-to-the-ball-and-then-make-it-hurt hits Vikings players were more accustomed to dishing out than taking.

¢ Weinmaster, who created holes for teammates, formed a wall for foes trying to find daylight and tried to fire up a team by going up and down the sideline breathing fire when Lawrence appeared to have broken their spirit.

¢ Mikel Ruder, a strong, fiery presence on both sides of the line.

¢ Clark Boatright, a receiver and defensive back, who threw the sort of downfield blocks that go unnoticed as the Murphy twins, Ryan and Brian, both seniors, streaked for big gains all year.

¢ Bobby Burnham. How about the way he just about picked up a bigger blocker and moved him out of his way so that he could put a vicious hit on the ball carrier in the first half?

¢ Philip Ozorkiewicz, whose drive and attention to detail earned him time on the field as a valuable member of the special teams.

¢ Richard Flaig, Jimmy Bruce and Neal Smith, who never tired of the grunt work because they knew without it, Free State wouldn’t have had such a special season.

¢ Mitch Morrow, Ebo Brown, Ben Harvey, Demaris Patton, Dale Coons, Tom Willger, Caleb Stephens, Stephen Webb, Christian Ballard and Bryant Peterson, who all contributed to building a winner.

They’re all done, but won’t soon be forgotten.