Free State quarterback Bryce Torneden (1) pushes the ball across the goal line for a touchdown during an intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday. Free State opens its season on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014 on the road against Shawnee Mission West.

Free State High and Lawrence High’s football teams took their biggest steps yet toward the upcoming season with intrasquad scrimmages Saturday afternoon.

The Firebirds squared off against each other for about two hours, and though there were plenty of mistakes, there were a lot of highlights.

Junior quarterback Bryce Torneden dazzled the crowd of about 120 with a 60-yard touchdown run while juking several defenders. Later, he showed off his arm with a deep throw to wide receiver Blake Murray, who ran to the one-yard line.

“It was fun. I was really happy,” senior offensive and defensive lineman Shane Hofer said. “Everyone played well, the line did really well, and Bryce has gotten a lot better and improved a lot since our camp we had over the summer, so it was really good.”

Torneden combined with running back Carson Bowen to form a deadly duo on read-option plays as both have great speed and aren’t afraid to drill into a defender, eliciting some memories of Torneden’s older brother, Camren, who led Free State to the 2008 state title game as a multi-threat quarterback.

What’s the biggest difference between the two Torneden brothers?

“They’re kind of clones,” FSHS coach Bob Lisher said. “Bryce is a little bit bigger and prettier.”

Despite a few touchdown runs and throws, Bryce Torneden didn’t want to take any credit away from anybody else.

“The line made some great holes,” Torneden said. “Coach Lisher called some great plays. We just try to follow through.”

Though the offense had the crowd pumped up with highlight plays, the defense had quite a few missed assignments, which drew the frustration of the coaching staff.

“Effort-wise, I thought it was pretty good,” Lisher said. “Assignment-wise, I didn’t think it was very good yet. You know, that’s kind of disappointing because we don’t return a lot of experience but we do return enough.”

Lawrence High

If there were any lingering questions about whether Lawrence High will have a strong defense this year, the Lions quickly put those thoughts to rest.

On the first play of the defensive session of the Lions’ scrimmage, junior linebacker Price Morgan blitzed through the line of scrimmage and pummeled a running back, getting a big roar from the crowd.

A few plays later, cornerback Ivan Hollins made an acrobatic interception on a pass over the middle.

Then, there’s the defensive line, which has plenty of speed and made running backs miserable by chasing them down at the line of scrimmage.

“I was thrilled,” Morgan said. “A lot of guys came out here and really competed. It’s hot and I know most people wouldn’t want to be here but they came out, wanted to get better, wanted to show that they can play on Friday nights, so I couldn’t be happier.”

A thermometer on the turf read 138 degrees during the scrimmage, which made LHS coach Dirk Wedd shorten the number of plays on the field, but also showed the Lions’ toughness.

“I liked the way they competed,” Wedd said. “We’ve got a long ways to go, but at the end of the first week, considering the weather, I thought they got in and out of the huddle, and I thought they understood the offensive and defensive concepts.

“Overall, I thought the good players played good and the average players, we need to get them to raise their game for us to be really good down the road.”

The offense was inconsistent as the Lions search for a solid core of offensive linemen after only two starters return from last year, junior Amani Bledsoe and senior Cole Greenwood. Wedd said it’s going to take some time for the group to gel but he’s confident they will progess with time.

However, it was the LHS defense that proved it will be scaring opposing teams this year.

“They were really good and they’re going to be a big part of this team this year,” junior quarterback Alan Clothier said. “We have a lot to work on offense, but they are going to be special.”