Free State High's football team stretches before a team scrimmage on Saturday at Kansas University's practice fields south of Memorial Stadium. Both FSHS and Lawrence High worked out in front of more than 100 spectators.

Jayhawk fans hoping to catch one last glimpse of the Kansas University football team at the squad’s new practice fields before dozens of 16-foot trees are planted to provide cover might have been confused Saturday afternoon.

Green and red took the place of crimson and blue for two hours as the Lawrence High and Free State High football programs held simultaneous, intrasquad scrimmages on adjacent fields off of Mississippi Street near Memorial Stadium.

The tradition actually dates back several years, as LHS and FSHS routinely have run through scrimmages at KU facilities, including Memorial Stadium. But this was a first for the Lions and Firebirds on the new practice fields, and the experience left more than a few players smiling.

“Coming out here and playing on a field like this in a place like this is unreal,” LHS senior Jake Green said. “It just doesn’t happen every day.”

Both sides battled distractions throughout the afternoon as more than 100 fans lined the sideline between the two fields and even more plopped down in lawn chairs or on blankets behind the end zones. At the end of the day, LHS coach Dirk Wedd and FSHS coach Bob Lisher said they thought their teams did a solid job of keeping the focus.

“The most important thing today was for the kids to go out there and perform,” Lisher said. “And I think they did that. It was a good scrimmage. We didn’t get as many snaps as we would’ve liked but when you have 80 kids that happens.”

LHS, which has a substantially lower number than Free State, wrapped up its scrimmage about 25 minutes before the Firebirds. Still, Wedd said he saw plenty of bright spots from his group.

“I think defensively we have a chance to be pretty good,” Wedd said. “Usually, our offense is able to move the ball on our defense, but today we couldn’t move it at all.”

Although both fields featured live officiating, complete with penalty flags and whistles, neither side kept score. It hardly mattered. Offensive and defensive highlights caught the eyes of the spectators even if a scoreboard didn’t.

On his first official play as a senior quarterback, FSHS’s Cameron Schmidt scored a touchdown on an option play to the left. The TD run was one of several on the day for Schmidt, who, along with younger brother Chandler, showed poise and potential throughout the afternoon.

FSHS senior Chucky Hunter also wowed the crowd with a few shakes and shimmies, and linebacker Mitch Werts picked off a pass that would’ve gone for six during a live game.

On the LHS side, Green found plenty of running room as a receiver, kick returner and running back. But for senior co-captain Ryan Giblin the highlight of the day came on defense.

“There was a sandwich hit between me and (senior) Murphy Ray,” Giblin said. “I think that had to be my highlight. It just felt great to get back out here and play ball.”

Another bonus of the afternoon was the ability of both staffs to put a camera in the tower that overlooks the fields.

“You can coach until you’re blue in the face,” Wedd said. “But when the kids can actually see themselves on film, doing things right and doing things wrong, it’s a whole different deal.”

Overall, even with parents cheering, a light breeze blowing and the cracking sound of pads filling the air, both teams seemed to remember that the most important thing Saturday was practicing and improving.

“I wasn’t too worried about the atmosphere of the field,” Free State senior Taylor Stuart said. “I was more worried about the atmosphere of our team. And I think it went pretty well for our first scrimmage.”

Free State and Lawrence High both open the 2008 season on Sept. 5.