In Hollywood, they pay screenwriters good money to come up with these kinds of scripts.

Let’s set the scene:

Saturday, when Free State High’s football team plays in its first Class 6A state championship game in school history, the opponent will be Junction City.

While the Firebirds have waited 12 seasons to break down the door of the state title tilt, Junction City High, which has existed more than six times as long as Free State, has waited 22 years to get back to the game.

Ironically, the last time the Blue Jays played for the state football title — in November of 1986 — three key members of the Firebirds’ program were there.

Free State head coach Bob Lisher was there, coaching the Lawrence High defense to a 20-7 victory, which included a second half in which the Lions did not give up a point.

In addition to Lisher, current Free State defensive coordinator, Brett Oberzan, was there as a player. He suited up for LHS coach Bill Freeman, who was in the middle of a run of four state titles in a six-year span that stretched from 1984-89.

As a defensive back, Oberzan played a pivotal role on Lisher’s defense.

“What a great feeling it was after the game to have that win,” Oberzan said. “When you get together with the guys you played that game with, you still talk about it today.”

Lastly, FSHS athletic director Mike Hill also was on the field that day as the Lions’ right offensive guard and nose guard. Hill and Oberzan were teammates, and both proudly claim that they were part of the first LHS team to finish 12-0.

“That was the last time (Junction City) was in it,” said Lisher, who has coached in eight state championship games but never played in one. “And we were there. That’s a pretty neat deal.”

Perhaps more incredible than finishing the season 12-0 was the fact that the 1986 Lions gave up just 45 points all season and trailed just twice, once in the semifinals against Shawnee Mission West, and 7-0 at halftime against Junction City.

Sounds a bit like the 2008 Firebirds.

In outscoring its opponents 65-34 this postseason, Free State has trailed just twice in the playoffs — 14-0 to Shawnee Mission Northwest in Round One and 6-3 to Olathe North in the semifinals.

Although Hill, now in his second year as the Free State’s AD, no longer has the same impact on the day-to-day operations of his school’s football team, the sights and sounds of that state title game 22 years ago remain etched in his mind.

“I have some fond memories of that day and that great group of guys,” Hill said. “There were 10 of us who started both ways, and we were a really close-knit group. What’s really cool about it is that I’m still close with a lot of those guys. With Brett and Bob having been there and done that, they know what’s it’s like to be part of a state championship team. And I think they convey that to the kids, which is positive.”

One other interesting note about the ’86 title game comes in the form of a supporting actor role on the other side of the field. Coach Ron Prince, who was fired by Kansas State earlier this month after three seasons in the director’s chair for the Wildcats, suited up for the Blue Jays.

Despite Prince going on to make a name for himself as a college player and coach down the road, Hill said he had no recollection of playing against Prince that day.

“None whatsoever,” Hill said. “I was 5-8, 152 pounds, and all I was trying to do was win and survive. Who I was getting banged around by or hit by, I have no clue.”