His accuracy throwing the ball is so impressive, his speed running it such a big-play tool, that it’s sometimes easy to overlook Free State senior quarterback Ryan Murphy’s steadiest quality. That would be exceptional intelligence that makes him the undisputed leader of a very good high school football team.

Bodies can break down, as illustrated in the second half of Free State’s 33-28 victory over Olathe East. Murphy and twin brother Brian, the running back, missed much of the second half when their legs cramped up. The quarterback’s brain never seems to cramp up.

When things around him broke down, Ryan repeatedly relied on quick decision making and feet to match, making something out of nothing.

Before cramps surfaced, the quarterback led the Firebirds (2-0) to a 33-14 halftime lead. It’s not a stretch to believe that if he were playing for the other team, Olathe East would have been ahead at the half.

Certainly, Murphy had help, much of it coming from his twin, who does so much with the inside hand-offs he gets from Ryan out of the shotgun formation that the defense must pay plenty of attention to him. Ryan exploits that respect shown his brother by deftly faking such hand-offs to give himself room to either pass or run for big gains.

The jobs of both Murphy brothers are made easier by an experienced, driven, talented offensive line. Kyle Weinmaster, Jimmy Bruce, Scott Williams, Mikel Ruder, Neal Smith, Richard Flaig and others threw big blocks in support of the Murphy twins.

Brian Murphy was so grateful he said the offensive line was “without a doubt the MVP of this game.”

On those instances there weren’t obvious holes to run through or prolonged pass protection, Ryan Murphy created big plays.

“His intelligence and extra year of experience make such a big difference,” Free State coach Bob Lisher said. “He knows the offense inside and out. We have a lot of read routes, and sometimes things break down. When they do, he knows where everybody is on the field. He scans the whole field while he’s on the run. We check out of a lot of plays at the line and he always seems to get us in the right play.”

Free State’s first play from scrimmage would have been a touchdown had tight end Christian Ballard, who had gotten behind the defense with his unusual speed for a player his size, kept running at full speed. The ball sailed longer than Ballard anticipated and fell incomplete, a rarity on a night Murphy put nearly ever pass on the money. Spirals and wobblers alike hit receivers in stride, regardless of whether Murphy was delivering from the pocket, rolling right, or rolling left.

He authored so many memorable plays in one half. He faked a hand-off, eluded pressure by rolling left, and hit Craig Rosenstengle for a 72-yard touchdown pass to make it 13-0. On fourth and four, he used just the right cadence to draw the defense offside. He returned a kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown at the end of the first half. In the second half, his 85-yard run from scrimmage was called back because of a holding penalty.

In the end, his body betrayed him. Teammates ought to take great comfort in knowing his mind never will.