Free State High senior nose guard Jack Caywood, seen at Tuesday’s practice, has battled guys nearly twice his size this season. He leads the Firebirds’ defense into the Class 6A state championship game on Saturday against Junction City.

Free State High wrestling coach Paul Lappin has no problem with senior standout Jack Caywood missing a few days of practice.

But it’s not because Lappin is showing favoritism to his most accomplished wrestler or because he’s not serious about his sport. He knows that Caywood is a huge part of the Free State High football team that will play for the Class 6A state championship at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Topeka. And, like many others around the school and the town, Lappin has caught a case of Firebird football hysteria.

“I’m happy for him and I wish the team the best of luck,” said Lappin, who plans to attend Saturday’s state title game. “I know he’s in a great situation and I know he’s working hard. When the football run is over, we’ll get him in here and he won’t miss a beat.”

It’s funny, because that concept of not missing a beat is what pushed Caywood to the point he’s at today. He’s taken a stance at many different spots on the field during his two-year varsity career. From linebacker and tailback to cornerback and defensive end, Caywood has flirted with several different positions. But midway through this, his senior season, he finally found a home. For the past seven games, Caywood has been the Firebirds’ starting nose guard and has battled guys nearly twice his size down after down.

Right there, in the middle of it all, Caywood anchors the Free State defense. In many ways, he serves as a microcosm for the entire unit, as he blends brute strength and intelligence with determination and constantly shows that he’ll do anything to get the job done.

“Heart, toughness, quickness, grit; you name it, he’s got it,” Free State football coach Bob Lisher said. “We knew, as a coaching staff, that we had to get him on the field somewhere,” Lisher said. “He has a motor that never stops.”

In any other sport, the 5-8, 160-pound Caywood facing off against offensive linemen who stand 6-3, 300 pounds and larger would be deemed a mismatch. Think of it as Caywood wrestling in the heavyweight division (275 and up) instead of his 152-pound weight class. Winning a single match would be tough there, but, in football, it works.

That’s in no small way because of the work ethic and desire Caywood carries with him. After all, it was his idea to set up shop in the trenches, an idea he first encountered before the season began when his father, Kurt, a former Journal-World sportswriter, suggested he try it.

“My dad had actually said something to me at the beginning of the year because he covered the Lawrence High teams of the late-80s and early-90s that had small guys playing on the line,” Caywood said. “I thought about it, but had always gone back to linebacker. Then one day I just went into weights, which I have first hour, and talked to Coach Lisher about trying it.”

Since then it’s been pure bliss for Caywood and the Firebirds.

The position fits him like a finely tailored suit. His wrestling background is a large reason for that.

“Me being smaller and quicker cancels out them being big,” Caywood said. “The stuff I use on the line in many ways is connected to wrestling, using leverage and stuff like that.”

Lappin, who often watches Caywood through two sets of eyes — one as a fan and the other as his wrestling coach — went into further detail.

“The two are definitely a lot alike,” he said. “Especially when it comes to contact and hitting people. A double leg is pretty much the same as a tackle and the way they’re hand-fighting and the way I see him moving other players is a lot of the same stuff I see from him on the wrestling mat.”

Lisher, who described the wrestling connection in simpler terms, said having a player like Caywood on his defensive line has given the Firebirds a unique swagger that has contributed mightily to the team’s run to the state title game.

“Him being a wrestler like that, certainly doesn’t hurt,” Lisher said. “He’s used to that kind of contact in close quarters and he’s a scrapper.”

That’s all Caywood has ever wanted to be. From the time three years ago when he first threw on practice pants and a green helmet to now, one day away from playing in the biggest game in school history, Caywood has worked tirelessly to make sure good things happen for the FSHS football team. He has not worried about style points or statistics along the way, only winning.

Even during his deepest daydreams, Caywood never thought he’d find himself in the position of being a leader, a key cog in a well-oiled machine and on the verge of becoming a state champion.

“I never did. I always wanted to, but I never thought I would,” he said. “I always thought it was one of those fairytale things, something you see in the movies. It’s awesome to be living it.”