Leading rusher Chucky Hunter is hobbling. Center-defensive end Michael Lisher is listed as questionable.

“I seriously doubt they’ll play,” Free State High football coach Bob Lisher said.

That means the Firebirds will likely begin district play tonight against Leavenworth without two of their best players.

Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. today at Abeles Field. The game will be televised live on Metro Sports (Sunflower Broadband 37).

Hunter, who has run for 679 yards and 10 touchdowns, turned an ankle during Monday’s practice session. Lisher rolled an ankle during last Thursday’s 35-7 loss at Olathe North.

If Hunter can’t go, coach Lisher said he would probably start junior Kirk Resseguie at running back with senior Jack Caywood in reserve.

With Lisher’s son questionable, guard Josh Hill moves to center with Colter Scott stepping in at guard. On the defensive line, Matt Ruder moves from nose guard to end with Caywood taking over in the middle.

On paper, Free State (3-3) can probably afford to play without a couple of starters because Leavenworth, a perennial Sunflower League doormat, has won only one of its six starts – an overtime decision over Shawnee Mission North.

“I don’t think that matters,” coach Lisher said. “All teams are created equal now, regardless of what happened during the first six weeks.”

Leavenworth appears on Free State’s schedule a week before archrival Lawrence, so the possibility exists the Firebirds may overlook the Pioneers.

Not so, says senior linebacker Eric Franz.

“We know they’ll be fired up,” Franz said. “We won’t underestimate them at all.”

Meanwhile, the Firebirds don’t appear concerned about having to play without two of their key players.

“It kind of hurts to have starters injured,” linebacker Taylor Stuart said, “but we have good depth.”

Free State’s all-time record against Leavenworth is 10-0, including a 41-0 pounding last year. The first victory in school history was posted against the Pioneers, a 15-13 decision in 1997.