Free State junior Camren Torneden (1) launches a pass against Shawnee Mission Northwest. The Firebirds fell to the Cougars, 34-27, on Friday in Overland Park.

Overland Park ? Bob Lisher has found a quarterback. Now if Free State High’s football coach could just find a defense.

Camren Torneden, playing only his second game at quarterback, accumulated 379 yards of total offense, but Shawnee Mission Northwest toppled the Firebirds, 34-27, on Friday night at SM North District Stadium.

“We knew before the season we’d struggle defensively,” Lisher said, “but we thought we’d have it ironed out by the third game. We’ve changed personnel and changed schemes, but we haven’t found the right combination.”

No doubt, however, that he’s found a quarterback. Installed at QB just last week, Torneden, a 5-foot-7, 160-pound junior, passed for 200 yards and rushed for 179 more, but the Firebirds couldn’t match that firepower on defense.

“Offensively,” Lisher said, “we’re a contender. Defensively, we’re nowhere near.”

Free State (1-2) counted 10 more first downs (26-16) and 73 more yards (440-367) than SM Northwest, but a lost fumble led to the Cougars’ first touchdown and Torneden threw three interceptions, all deep in SMNW territory.

Free State also committed some inopportune penalties, including an offsides call when SM Northwest (2-1) faced a fourth-and-two situation inside the Firebirds’ 10. Instead of attempting a field goal, the Cougars received new life and scored a touchdown just before halftime to snap a 14-14 deadlock.

Another critical penalty occurred in the waning seconds.

Lagging 34-27, the Firebirds forced a punt and Hunter fielded Bryce Atagi’s boot at the Free State 11. Momentarily, he criss-crossed with Torneden, handing the ball to his teammate who broke down the left side, then reversed field and sprinted all the way into the end zone on what appeared to be a game-tying 89-yard punt return.

However, an official stood on the Cougars’ 11, signaling that Torneden had stepped out of bounds.

“I thought I’d scored,” Torneden said. “I didn’t think I stepped out of bounds.”

That wasn’t the worst of it, though. Instead of trying to forge a tying score from 11 yards out, the Firebirds retreated again because another official had thrown a flag at the Northwest 32, indicating an illegal block.

After the 10-yard penalty, the Firebirds were 42 yards from the end zone instead of the 11 with under a minute to play. A pass interference penalty pushed Free State to the 27, but on the next play Torneden tossed his third interception.

Lisher faulted neither the offsides penalty just before halftime nor the illegal block in the waning moments.

“Those were hustle plays,” he said. “Our guys were trying to make plays.”

Perhaps the game’s most pivotal play occurred early in the fourth quarter. Minutes after Free State had scored and cut Northwest’s lead to 27-21, the Cougars faced a third-and-seven on their own 37.

A defensive stop would have enabled the Firebirds to maintain the momentum. Disaster struck, however, when Atagi grabbed a Matt Nowak pass in the left flat and rocketed down the left sideline, eluding and shrugging off would-be tacklers.

That one play typified Free State’s defensive woes.

“That was huge, absolutely huge,” Lisher said. “We had a guy assigned to sit on (the screen pass), and he was nowhere near there.”

Curiously, although Torneden rushed for 179 yards, he didn’t score. Tailback Chucky Hunter, who gained 61 yards on 15 carries, scored three TDs – twice on runs of two yards and once on a 16-yard scamper.

“I can’t fault the effort,” Lisher said. “We kept fighting. But we have to find ways to play defense better.”

Free State will travel to Olathe South next Friday night.