The last time Free State High’s football team made it to the 6A state semifinals, the senior class had more star power, but that doesn’t mean this one can’t advance one step beyond the 2006 Firebirds who went 11-1.

“Hopefully, they can win the next one (7 p.m. Friday, at Blue Valley High) and go farther than we did,” former Firebirds tight end/defensive end Christian Ballard said by phone from Iowa City, where he starts at defensive end as a sophomore for the University of Iowa. “It’s good to see we’re starting a football tradition.”

Ballard was on the sidelines for the Free State-Lawrence High game at Haskell Stadium, wearing a bright gold Iowa T-shirt.

Ballard initially made a verbal commitment to attend Kansas University, but changed his mind and signed with Iowa.

“I get homesick a lot,” said Ballard, an art major. “It’s hard being away from your friends and family, but if I stayed in Lawrence, I’m not sure I would be able to focus the way I need to. It was a good idea to move away.”

Ballard said his playing weight is 285 for the Hawkeyes, for whom he has been credited with 1-1/2 sacks. Ballard and teammates foiled the national-title hopes of Penn State, giving the Nittany Lions their only loss, 24-23, on Nov. 8.

“We were determined to win, determined to play our best,” Ballard said. “The outcome wasn’t surprising.”

Iowa (7-4 overall, 4-3 in the Big Ten) has lost four games by a total of 12 points.

Ballard was one of five highly-decorated FSHS seniors in 2006. Quarterback Ryan Murphy, now a red-shirt freshman cornerback for Kansas University, has played sparingly for the Jayhawks. He and his twin, Brian, redshirted as freshmen. Brian transferred to Emporia State during the summer and is the team’s leading punt returner and kick returner. Mikel Ruder, a redshirt freshman at Missouri State, is a reserve defensive lineman and has nine tackles. Kyle Weinmaster is a second-year starter at defensive end for Baker University.

— Sports editor Tom Keegan can be reached at 832-7147.