Jackets galore: Free State High and Junction City were the only Class 6A football teams that earned the right to play for the state title on Saturday evening, but they weren’t the only schools represented at Washburn University’s Yager Stadium. Letterman jackets from Lawrence High, Highland Park, Shawnee Heights and Washburn Rural littered the stands on both sides as former opponents of both the Firebirds and the Blue Jays showed up to watch the action.

Battle of the bands: Even the Free State High band got into the competitive spirit at Saturday’s state title game. As the Firebirds’ band waited to take the field at halftime, senior Jeff Jasperson told his fellow bandmates, “We’re going to be facing Junction City’s crowd. Let’s blow their fans away.” The Firebirds did not disappoint, as the halftime show — which featured performances by both bands — was as energetic as any all season.

Perfect venue: Washburn University’s Yager Stadium proved to be the ideal place for the Class 6A state title game to call home. For starters, neither school had to drive far, and the atmosphere of the small-college field gave the game a big-time feel without being too large to drown out the excitement. Fans from both schools packed both sides, both bands could be heard throughout the game, and the artificial turf, press box, suites and scoreboard all added to the vibe. Former Lawrence High quarterback Brad Romme, who guided his LHS team to a state title at Kansas State University’s stadium in 1993, said he would have loved the chance to play for the title at Yager Stadium. “I’d pick this place every time,” Romme said. “Every single time.”

Loud crowd: Although Junction City supporters outnumbered the Firebirds by a small margin, that didn’t keep those fans wearing green from making some noise. Free State’s crowd was loud throughout the contest, particularly at the start of the second half, when the Firebirds started their comeback. As Junction City opened the second half with a 7-0 lead and the ball, the FSHS side grew louder with each play until junior lineman Matt Ruder recovered a Blue Jays’ fumble at the JCHS 41-yard line. Eight plays later, the Firebirds tied the game at 7 when junior quarterback Camren Torneden found senior wideout Preston Randolph for a 13-yard touchdown completion.

Sweet signage: Saturday’s game might have been the Free State High football team’s first appearance in a state title game, but you sure couldn’t tell by looking at the signs that decorated the FSHS bleachers. Some of the best banners were: “Making History,” “Work Will Win When Wishing Won’t,” and “Victory Looks Better in Green.”

Wet not cold

The last two Free State football games were played on Friday nights in temperatures that dipped into the low 20s. Saturday’s game was played in considerably warmer weather, as the temperature at kickoff was 41 degrees. But Mother Nature made an impact in other ways Saturday, as light snow fell during the first quarter and heavier rains pelted the field during most of the second half. The only time some form of precipitation was not falling was five minutes after the final horn sounded.

Unsung hero: A tip of the cap goes to Free State junior Connor Stremel, a seldom-used wide receiver who came up with two of the game’s biggest catches on Saturday. Stremel, whose only other memorable catch this season came on a 20-yard touchdown late during a 35-7 loss to Olathe North during the regular season, caught the first pass of the game for a first down on Free State’s opening drive and added an even bigger grab on a second-and-10 during the Firebirds’ first scoring drive. Stremel soared high into the air to rip down a Torneden bullet with two hands before falling flat on his back after another first down.