Odds in their favor

In its first two games, the Free State High football team has scored a total of 14 touchdowns. Senior twin brothers Ryan and Brian Murphy have factored into 10 of them.

Nose for the end zone

Free State junior wide receiver Craig Rosenstengle has a touchdown reception in each game this season. He caught a 15-yard score against Leavenworth and a 73-yard pass against Olathe East.

Simply special

Free State senior quarterback/safety Ryan Murphy now has two kickoff returns for touchdowns after two games. The scores came on returns of 93 and 86 yards.

Airing it out

The Lawrence High football team typically completes five passes per game, but quarterback Chance Riley attempted a staggering 24 throws Friday against Olathe South. That large number is partly due to Riley’s strong arm and the receiving ability of Nathan Padia, but the Lions resorted to the pass against Olathe South because of struggles in the running game.

Instant offense

Speaking of Padia, he has been the Lions’ biggest offensive threat thus far in 2006. He has surpassed 100 receiving yards and scored a touchdown in each game. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound senior also has displayed his talents on special teams and defense. He ran a kick back 58 yards in Week 1 and returned a punt 45 yards in Week 2. During the third quarter of Week 2, he deflected a sure touchdown pass to Olathe South’s Schayne Loveless.

Close but not quite

Moral victories do not count in the standings, but LHS volleyball (1-2), which finished 14-24 last year, hung tough against a stout Free State squad (3-0) Wednesday. The Lions led 23-21 in the third game before losing, 25-23, to a Firebirds team that reached the Class 6A sub-state finals last year. Lions coach Molly LaMere praised the team’s work ethic.

Spinning class

Lawrence High’s No. 1 tennis player, Lauren Kelly, is trying to create more spin on her serve, which had become a bit too flat, in her quest to compete with the top players in the Sunflower League.