Firebirds look to clinch home-field advantage

Free State High football players aren’t just satisfied by clinching a spot in the state playoffs after last week’s victory over Manhattan. They’re focused on getting a top seed and home-field advantage.

To complete all of those goals, the Firebirds will have to go on the road and beat Topeka High at 7 tonight at THS.

“Coach (Bob) Lisher has been preaching all week that we can’t be satisfied with the win last week,” senior defensive end and tight end Blake Murray said. “We haven’t let up at all (in practice). If anything, we’ve been going harder.”

The Firebirds (5-3) and the Trojans (7-1, ranked No. 4 by Kpreps.com) both won their first two district games, and the winner of this week’s matchup will be rewarded with a home game next week in the first round of the playoffs.

Free State’s defense will have its hands full with one of the top offenses in the state. THS is loaded with a potent run game and passing attack.

“We’re doing really well at fighting the reads and having (running backs) cut back to our linebackers, and not letting them get outside at all,” sophomore middle linebacker Jay Dineen said. “It’s going to be a good test. They’re probably one of the better teams on the west side of the state, so it’s going to be a big test for us to see where we are.”

The Trojans ran for 458 yards in their win last week, and tossed for another 281 yards, led by junior running back Saylor Caraway and senior quarterback Alec Beatty. The Firebirds have limited opposing offenses over the last few weeks after getting a few injured defensive starters back on the field, and they’re excited to see how well they can do against a top team.

“We have put a lot of emphasis on stopping everything, especially the run,” Lisher said. “We’re going to have to do a great job of that against Topeka High because they can run and throw. They spread you all over the field with some great athletes. This will probably be one of the biggest challenges we’ve had this year, if not the biggest.”

FSHS probable starters

Offense

LT — Scott Frantz, sr.

LG — Shane Hofer, sr.

C — Coleman Houk, sr.

RG — Josiah LeBrun, sr.

RT — Tanner Liba, jr.

QB — Bryce Torneden, jr.

RB — Khaury El-Amin, jr.

H — Joel Spain, sr.

WR — Tye Carter, sr.

WR — Andrew Keating, sr.

TE — Blake Murray, sr.

K — Joel Spain, sr.

P — Tye Carter, sr.

Defense

DE — Blake Murray, sr.

NG — Michael Georgie, sr.

DE — Shane Hofer, sr.

OLB — Drew Tochtrop, jr.

MLB — Jay Dineen, so.

LB — Paul Bittinger, jr.

LB — Zion Bowlin, so.

OLB — Carson Bowen, sr.

CB — Andrew Keating, sr.

CB — Joel Spain, sr.

FS — Bryce Torneden, jr.