Free State High’s Murphy twins did what they’ve been doing. They scored touchdowns and they cramped up.

Fortunately for the Firebirds, the Murphys scored enough touchdowns in the first half for a 33-28 victory over Olathe East, last year’s Class 6A state runner-up, on Thursday night at Haskell Stadium.

“We’ve tried everything,” Free State coach Bob Lisher said of the brothers’ cramping problems. “We’ve talked to doctors. We’ve tried every drink imaginable. It’s something that happens at halftime, and we don’t know what it is.”

Tailback Brian Murphy scored on runs of 23, 11 and two yards in the first half. Meanwhile, quarterback Ryan Murphy threw a 73-yard touchdown pass to Craig Rosenstengle and uncorked an 86-yard kickoff return for a TD just before halftime that proved to be the clincher.

Then Brian came out for the second half and immediately suffered cramps. He carried the ball only three times after intermission.

“My whole body tightened up,” Brian said. “It happened last week (against Leavenworth), too.”

Ryan was doing OK, however, until the Firebirds’ second possession. With the Lions on their own 15, the 5-10, 175-pound senior blasted through a hole on the left side and raced 85 yards into the end zone for an apparent touchdown.

“That would have broken our backs,” O-East coach Jeff Meyers said afterward.

But Murphy’s long run was negated by a holding penalty – the Firebirds’ third holding flag of the night – and, worse, Murphy cramped up while making the journey.

“It happened during the run,” Ryan said. “I tightened up, but I sucked it up and finished.”

Each Murphy tried to return one or two times, but neither lasted longer than a down.

“We’ve had this problem the last two weeks,” Ryan said, “and it’s something we’ve got to get taken care of.”

Without the Murphys, the Firebirds struggled, particularly on offense.

“They’re such great athletes,” O-East coach Meyers said. “It’s awful nice for me to see when they’re not on the field.”

Still, even without the Murphys, the Firebirds were solid enough on defense to keep from blowing a 33-14 halftime lead.

“It’s a team game,” Lisher said. “You’ve got to have 11 guys, and luckily we had enough to pull it out.”

Free State’s defense didn’t wilt until midway through the fourth quarter. Led by workhorse running back Demetrious Bell, who finished with 220 yards rushing on 34 carries, the Hawks closed the gap to 33-21 with 6:27 remaining.

After that, the Firebirds’ back-up backfield of quarterback Craig Rosenstengle and backs Doyle Coons and Chucky Hunter ate four minutes of the clock, driving to the Hawks’ 23. However, Hunter fumbled and O-East recovered.

Down by 12 points with 2:13 remaining, the Hawks consumed those 77 yards in eight plays. The last-ditch drive featured a 29-yard pass from Travis Tannahill to Aaron Gowdy in a desperation fourth-and-17 situation that carried to the Firebirds’ one.

Tannahill bolted into the end zone a play later. The clock showed :51.7 and Free State’s lead had been whittled to five.

O-East had to try an onsides kick. The Firebirds’ Caleb Gress recovered, and Free State was able to run out the clock and avenge a 27-6 loss to the Hawks last season.

“This was definitely a huge win,” Brian Murphy said. “I’ve had this game circled ever since the season started.”

Thursday’s triumph also signaled that Free State is a team to be reckoned with in the chase for the Sunflower League title.

“We’re going to be happy with it,” senior lineman Kyle Weinmaster said. “This was a big one.”

Free State (2-0) will return to Haskell Stadium a week from tonight to entertain Shawnee Mission North.