Firebirds’ fleet feet big concern for LHS

Wedd knows Lions must hang tough early against explosive Free State offense

When Chance Riley was the quarterback on Southwest Junior High’s football team, he would often put the football in the hands of running backs Ryan Murphy and Brian Murphy.

That was three years ago. Now Riley is Lawrence High’s quarterback, while Ryan Murphy and Brian Murphy play quarterback and running back, respectively, for Free State High.

“They were fast then,” said Riley, recalling his days as a teammate of the talented Murphy twins, “but they’re stronger and faster now.”

And how. The speedy and slippery Murphys have been the catalysts on the best football team in Free State High’s decade of existence, a seemingly unstoppable juggernaut that has scored 60 or more points three times.

Can the Lions (4-3) stop – or even slow – the unbeaten Firebirds (7-0) tonight?

“If we can weather that first storm, I think we’ll be OK,” Lawrence coach Dirk Wedd said. “They’ll come right at us, and the longer we can stay with them the better chance we’ll have.”

Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m. at Haskell Stadium. Sunflower Broadband Cable 6 will have a delayed telecast at 10:30 p.m.

For the first time in three weeks, both the Murphys will be at full speed. Ryan has been healthy for all seven games, compiling a Sunflower League-high 1,711 yards of offense. Brian, however, has missed the last seven quarters because of a sprained ankle. Now Brian is almost completely healed.

“If he’s not 100 percent, he’s close,” Free State coach Bob Lisher said. “He looked very good in practice (Wednesday) and I expect he’ll be ready by game time.”

In anticipation of meeting Free State and in the wake of a 51-7 flogging by Shawnee Mission West two weeks ago, Wedd made some changes on defense.

Notably, Wedd moved Tony Williams from strong safety to end and installed Richard Demby at tackle even though Demby weighs just 165 pounds.

Bragging rights in river city

Lawrence High owns a 6-3 edge against Free State in their all-time football meetings. Here is the year-by-year breakdown:

2005 – Lawrence 33, Free State 28

2004 – Free State 14, Lawrence 12

2003 – Lawrence 21, Free State 6

2002 – Lawrence 42, Free State 26

2001 – Free State 16, Lawrence 0

2000 – Lawrence 35, Free State 0

1999 – Free State 31, Lawrence 28, OT

1998 – Lawrence 28, Free State 24

1997 – Lawrence 34, Free State 15

“Our problem is that when we improve team speed,” Wedd said, “we lose 40 pounds per man.”

While Wedd’s plight may sound like a dilemma, speed is imperative when you have to face the Murphy twins as well as H-back Chucky Hunter and wide receiver Craig Rosenstengle, the Firebirds’ other two offensive weapons.

“I know we’ll play hard,” said Williams, who also is the Lions’ leading rusher with 861 yards. “It’s my senior year and I’d like to win. Anything can happen.”

Free State has the incentive of playing for its first Sunflower League championship. A win over the Lions will secure at least a piece of the title. Shawnee Mission West and Olathe East, the league’s other unbeaten teams, will meet tonight in Olathe.

“We’ve mentioned it,” Lisher said of the title possibility, “but we also pointed out that if you play well those things take care of themselves.”

The Lions, who have been wracked by offensive line injuries all season, won’t have 280-pound senior tackle Jake Lorenzo suited tonight. Lorenzo suffered a concussion late in last week’s 51-7 win over Washburn Rural. Lorenzo will be replaced by 230-pound senior Patrick Johnson, who missed last week’s game with a sprained ankle.

Tonight’s winner will be a virtual lock for a postseason berth. Even the loser will have a solid shot at the Class 6A playoffs if it can win next Friday’s district finale. The Firebirds will travel to Washburn Rural, while the Lions will entertain Topeka High.

Washburn Rural (1-6) and Topeka (1-6) will square off tonight at Hummer Sports Park in Topeka.