Fans of razzle-dazzle football figure to be in for a great show at 7 p.m. tonight at Haskell Stadium, where Free State High (2-1) plays host to Olathe North (2-1).

The Firebirds and Eagles both are led by strong offensive ground games, and both run wide-open offenses that present numerous possibilities with each snap of the football.

“We have to be option-sound,” Free State coach Bob Lisher said. “Our offense is all option, and their offense is all option, just a different way – they’re under center, more of the old-style option, but it’s just as deadly, and you have to be sound defensively and make sure you’re tackling the right guys, because if you get two guys tackling one guy and he doesn’t have the football, you’re in trouble.”

For years, Olathe North dominated the Sunflower League and the Class 6A football kingdom. The Eagles won six of the seven state titles from 1996 to 2003, including four in a row at one point. But the last Olathe North title came in 2003, and each season since that time people have asked the same question regarding the tradition-rich program: Is Olathe North back?

“Looking at them on tape, and seeing what they’ve done so far this year, I think they’re on their way back,” Lisher said. “I don’t know if they’re all the way back, but they’re awfully good.”

The Eagles rolled over Lawrence High, 41-13, in the season opener and drubbed Shawnee Mission North in Week Two, but they stumbled last week and lost, 45-22, to Shawnee Mission Northwest.

As far as Lisher’s concerned, that loss didn’t do anything to help the Firebirds’ cause.

“Shawnee Mission Northwest didn’t do us any favors by making (Olathe North) angry for this week,” Lisher said. “Our kids are just going to have to stay focused and understand that they have to do a great job up front or we’re going to be in for a long night.”

Free State tailback Chucky Hunter said playing Olathe North, after easy victories over SM South and Leavenworth, brought an air of excitement to this week’s practices.

“It’s go time,” Hunter said. “This is a big week. We match up pretty well with them, and I think we’re ready. We just have to focus on the way we play. If we come out and play our game, we’ll be successful.”

Olathe North no doubt believes the same thing, so tonight’s game could be decided by which team makes the fewest mistakes.

The Eagles are led by a trio of talented runners in tailback L.C. Bouknight, quarterback Jake Catloth and fullback Breyon Elliot. That threesome combined for 324 yards on 51 carries against Lawrence High, but was kept in check last week against the Cougars.

Regardless of last week’s struggles, Lisher knows that those three, along with a big and talented offensive line, are the key to the Eagles’ attack.

“They’re a run-first, pass-last offense. They love to run the football,” Lisher said. “They’re an old-fashioned option team. They run a lot of inside-outside veers, speed option, a little toss and a little counter. They have athletes, and they have linemen to put in front of them. From what I’ve seen on tape, they can be very explosive. If you’re out of position, they can hurt you quick.”

With that in mind, Free State’s focus this week was to remain disciplined throughout the game, on every play and at every point on the field.

“I think we improved in practice this week,” Lisher said. “And hopefully we continue to make improvements. But it’s a different offense we’re facing, and we have to do different things against it.”

Offensively, Free State, which averages a shade over 41 points per game, will strive for balance in its running and passing games. However, because of the magnitude of this week’s contest, the Firebirds might throw in a wrinkle or two that they haven’t shown yet this season.

“We have a few tricks up our sleeves,” Hunter said. “But the bottom line is we just need to be in our positions and know what we need to do to make plays.”