Yeah, yeah, football teams play ’em one at a time.

Yet it’s hard to overlook the fact Free State High will be playing two of the Sunflower League’s best teams – Olathe South and Olathe North – on back-to-back Fridays.

“It’s like a season in itself,” Free State senior lineman Mikel Ruder said.

Both those games will be at the Olathe District Activities Center. Kickoff for tonight’s game against O-South will be 7 p.m. Same time, same place next Friday against O-North.

“It’d be nice to have one of those games here,” Firebirds coach Bob Lisher said, “but that’s not the way it works.”

After three weeks, three Sunflower League teams remain unbeaten. After tonight, that number will shrink because two of the three are Free State and Olathe South. The other is Shawnee Mission West.

Free State and Olathe South boast two of the league’s most potent offenses.

Ryan Murphy, the Firebirds’ senior quarterback, led the league in total offense last season, and the 5-foot-10, 175-pound senior remains on top after three games this fall. Murphy is averaging 217 yards a game – 141 passing and 76 rushing.

Murphy has accounted for nine touchdowns – four passing, three running and two on long kickoff returns. For good measure Murphy, who also starts in the secondary, shares the league lead in interceptions with two.

Olathe South boasts an offensive arsenal. Quarterback Mike Keese tops the league passing chart, Anthony Sanchez is among the rushing leaders and Shayne Loveless paces all loop receivers with 13 catches.

“They’re very balanced with a very good offensive line,” Lisher said. “And Sanchez, he’s the real deal.”

Many of Free State’s players had the unusual opportunity of watching Olathe South play two weeks ago. The Firebirds had played on a Thursday night, so many of them went to Haskell Stadium the following night and watched the Falcons outlast Lawrence High, 14-7.

“Their defensive line,” senior tackle Neal Smith said, “is about the biggest test we’ve had yet.”

Added Ruder: “I thought they passed the ball real well.”

No doubt the Firebirds will have to perform at a higher level tonight and again next Friday than they did in last week’s static 20-14 win over Shawnee Mission North.

“We just didn’t have the right head for that game,” Ruder said. “We played terrible in the first half.”

Only a halftime wake-up call enabled the Firebirds to salvage a come-from-behind win over the Indians.

“Hopefully, we remedied that situation,” Lisher said. “I think they realize they better show up the next two weeks. We’d better bring our A-game to both of them.”