Free State players celebrate an interception in the end zone that ended a Shawnee Mission West comeback bid late in the fourth quarter by senior Joel Spain while Shawnee Mission West reciever Asher Goldston is slow to get up during their game Thursday night in Overland Park. The Firebirds defeated the Vikings, 20-14.

Overland Park ? It didn’t matter which end zone the ball was thrown to in the fourth quarter Thursday night at Shawnee Mission South District Stadium. Either way, Free State High’s Joel Spain was coming away with the prize.

In the final five minutes against Shawnee Mission West, Spain, Free State’s 5-foot-9 senior, caught a 19-yard touchdown on the north side of the field to break a tie and intercepted a would-be score in the south end zone to help the Firebirds open their season with a 20-14 victory.

A starting receiver and cornerback, Spain made the critical plays just more than three minutes apart. He and junior quarterback Bryce Torneden, whose offensive bursts carried FSHS (1-0) all evening, set up the decisive TD together.

“We had a pass that worked (earlier),” Spain said, “and I told Bryce to pump-fake it away and throw it to me. He did a great job — threw me a perfect pass.”

Spain elevated over a Vikings defensive back to make the touchdown grab with 4:45 left. Within seven plays, SMW (0-1) was in Free State’s red zone, with the help of a pair of 15-yard penalties called against the Firebirds (including a pass-interference flag thrown for Spain’s coverage on a deep heave). Those came immediately following the Vikings’ block of Spain’s extra-point.

Later, with 1:50 remaining, SMW faced a third-and-nine on Free State’s 16. When junior quarterback Adam Rellihan threw the ball to the end zone for the possible tying score, Spain wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

“I knew I had to make the play down in the red zone,” the high-jumping do-it-all Firebird said.

Torneden, who rushed for 152 yards and two touchdowns in his first varsity start, applauded Spain’s efforts.

“I’m glad he’s on our team,” Torneden said. “It sucks playing against him. He’s such a smart, great player. I’m glad we have him.”

FSHS coach Bob Lisher wasn’t complaining about his newest starting quarterback.

Torneden completed nine of his 12 passes for 128 yards and played a part in all three of his team’s scores. The 5-foot-9 junior broke tackles, improvised and turned nothings into somethings all evening. Torneden converted two fourth downs on Free State’s first possession, one by evading a pass rush and taking off, another by hitting junior Drew Tochtrop with a pass. He turned third downs into first downs four times.

“He’s exhibited a lot of things in practice that we just kind of shake our heads and go, ‘Wow.’ But then he makes mistakes, too, because he’s young,” Lisher said. “The only thing he’s gonna do is get better. So we’re excited about that.”

With the help of Free State’s starting offensive line — Scott Frantz, Shane Hofer, Coleman Houk, Josh Hout and Tanner Liba — the visitors rushed for 258 yards. Carson Bowen (41 yards), Sam Skwarlo (28), Spain (21) and Joe Lane (15) all carried the load at different times.

Senior left guard Hofer said sometimes the line played well and sometimes it didn’t, but he gave the unit a mostly positive review. He felt much better about his sack, strip and fumble recovery against SMW quarterback Jonathan Shull midway through the second quarter, with Free State ahead 14-7.

“I tried to pick it up and run, but it was just too hard,” Hofer said, with a laugh. “I just fell right on it. The linebackers helped me get that play.”

Hofer ended the night and sealed the win on the game’s final play with another sack of Shull.

The 6-foot-2 lineman’s play didn’t surprise his coach. But Lisher felt fortunate Free State won, considering the team’s missed chances after scoring on its first two possessions of the night. The Firebirds’ next three visits to the red zone came and went without a score.

Said Spain: “We’re still young. We’re still learning a lot of stuff. It’s not perfect, but I’m really proud of our guys and what they were able to accomplish today.”