Opposing football teams have tried just about everything to slow down Free State High quarterback Bryce Torneden and running back Sam Skwarlo this season. Nothing has worked.

Torneden and Skwarlo have combined for a ferocious rushing attack, helping Free State to a six-game winning streak entering their matchup against Wichita West (5-4) at 7 tonight at FSHS in the first round of the state playoffs.

Defenses might be able to limit one of them, but then the other always finds a way to step up. In all but one game this season, Torneden or Skwarlo has rushed for more than 100 yards. The lone exception was a 43-7 victory when they didn’t play in the fourth quarter.

“We always tell each other, with the offensive line we have, they are not going to be able to stop both of us,” Torneden said. “If one of us is playing bad, the other one has to step up even more.”

Torneden and Skwarlo both have their own running styles. Torneden, a North Dakota State commit, is shifty and can slip through the tiniest gaps. Skwarlo makes one cut and dares people to tackle him by lowering his shoulders through defenders. Both of them have elite speed once they run into the open field.

“I’d say his best attribute is definitely his agility,” Skwarlo said of his quarterback. “He can stop on a dime. He just breaks ankles.”

After playing against each other in middle school, Skwarlo and Torneden first teamed up in the backfield during their freshman year in 2012. In their first game together, they combined for four touchdowns in a freshman football game.

Last season, they were looking forward to reuniting in the varsity backfield, but it was short-lived when Skwarlo suffered a season-ending foot injury in the first game.

But Skwarlo hasn’t missed a beat since returning to the field.

“I’m not surprised at all,” Torneden said. “I’ve seen that guy work on the field and up in the weight room. I’m not surprised.”

They’ve made up for lost time, leading Free State (6-3) to a district title. Skwarlo, who has scored in every game this season, has rushed for 1,153 yards and 16 touchdowns. Torneden is right behind him with 885 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.

Together, they’ve combined for one of the best one-two punches in the state, and, arguably, one of the best tandems in school history.

“They’re right up there with them,” FSHS coach Bob Lisher said. “We’ve had some pretty good 1-2 punches. (Camren) Torneden and (Chucky) Hunter. Torneden and (Kirk) Resseguie. On and on … we’ve had some good ones. They rank right up there at the top.”

At the beginning of the season, Skwarlo and Torneden played through an inexperienced offensive line. Once the line — Garrett Swisher, Chase Houk, Jay Dineen, Tanner Liba and Sam Hambleton — started improving, it’s only made the Firebirds’ backfield more dangerous.

“They had to make a lot of yards early on their own,” Lisher said. “But our offensive line has got a lot better, which has made things a little easier on those two.”

Skwarlo, who had to watch last season from the sidelines, said he thought all offseason long about returning to the field for his senior season.

“I just kind of envisioned it and this is exactly how I saw it,” Skwarlo said with a smile. “But it’s not over yet.”

FSHS probable starters

Offense

LT — Chase Houk, jr.

LG — Jay Dineen, jr.

C — Garrett Swisher, sr.

RG — Sam Hambleton, jr.

RT — Tanner Liba, sr.

QB — Bryce Torneden, sr.

RB — Sam Skwarlo, sr.

H — Zack Sanders, jr.

WR — Logan McKinney, sr.

WR — Daniel Bryant, jr.

TE — Darian Lewis, sr.

K — Kameron Lake, fr.

P — Drew Tochtrop, sr.

Defense

DT — Noah Kema, jr.

NG — Darian Lewis, sr.

DT — Jalen Galloway, sr.

OLB — Paul Bittinger, sr.

ILB — Jay Dineen, jr.

ILB — Sam Skwarlo, sr.

OLB — Drew Tochtrop, sr.

CB — Zack Sanders, jr.

CB — Logan McKinney, sr.

FS — Bryce Torneden, sr.

SS — Zion Bowlin, jr.