When you’re up you’re up, and when you’re down you’re down. That’s life.

Up-Downs, however, are a different story. If you’re a Free State High football player, you want to avoid them at all costs.

“Our goal,” senior defensive back Jason Sneegas said, “is not to do Up-Downs.”

When the Firebirds have been judged to have played below their potential by coach Bob Lisher and his staff, the players are required to perform quick drops to the ground followed by sudden stand-ups.

“We do them over and over,” Sneegas said.

Not lately, though. Up-Downs have been a rarity over the last month because the Firebirds have won four games in a row – including shutouts of Shawnee Mission West and Lawrence High – and have qualified for the Class 6A state playoffs.

Before the playoffs begin in two weeks, however, the Firebirds will have to play their regular-season finale tonight against Washburn Rural, a two-win team that, on paper, looms as no threat.

Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. at Haskell Stadium.

Lisher realizes his players could suffer a letdown tonight – particularly in the wake of last Friday’s emotional 27-0 blanking of Lawrence High – but the Firebirds’ coach isn’t expecting a deflating performance.

“I don’t think so,” Lisher said. “Washburn Rural, like any team, can beat you. We’ve been preaching and preaching that it doesn’t matter who we’re playing.”

While the Firebirds’ offense has performed at a high level all season with quarterback Craig Rosenstengle closing in on 1,500 yards of total offense and tailback Chucky Hunter approaching the 1,000-yard rushing plateau, the defense has improved by leaps and bounds after a slow beginning.

The Firebirds (6-2) surrendered 48 points in their first two games, yet have given only 50 points in their last six outings, a stretch that includes a school-record-tying three shutouts.

Free State foes are averaging only 12.2 points a game. Last year’s 11-1 edition of the Firebirds, the best in school history, allowed 14.3 points a game, so there really hasn’t been any dropoff despite the loss of eight defensive starters.

“I think it’s mostly just us getting used to each other,” linebacker Zack Toelkes said about the defensive improvement. “We’re clicking on all cylinders now.”

Toelkes and Scott Williams, a defensive end, both posted a school-record five tackles for losses in Friday’s game against the Lions. Meanwhile, the Firebirds also have intercepted 15 passes, three each by Craig Rosenstengle, Mitch Werts and Sneegas.

Playoffs pairings will be announced Saturday and, if the Firebirds win tonight, it’s likely they will be a No. 3 seed and play host to a first-round game a week from tonight.