Free State seniors Bryce Torneden (1) and Tanner Liba (76) walk off the field as Derby players celebrate in the background during their game Friday night at Panther Stadium in Derby. The Firebirds fell to the Panthers, 35-14.

Derby ? Free State High football players tried everything and anything to create offense against Derby in the Class 6A state semifinals on Friday. The Panthers were just too fast, too strong and too determined.

The Firebirds were held to a season-low 220 yards of offense and just couldn’t keep pace with Derby in a season-ending 35-14 loss at Panther Stadium.

Free State’s strong run game was blown up with tackles in the backfield. On pass plays, FSHS senior quarterback Bryce Torneden was chased around the pocket and dragged down when he tried to scramble.

The Firebirds punted or turned the ball over on downs on their first seven possessions.

“(Derby) did a lot of things well,” FSHS coach Bob Lisher said. “They were quicker than us. They were a bit more physical than us up front. I didn’t think they (would be) looking at them on film, but obviously they were.”

Trailing by 14 points in the fourth quarter, Free State’s defense forced three straight three-and-out possessions, trying to help the offense find its rhythm for a potential comeback.

But scoring quick touchdowns was too tough against Derby’s defense, along with throwing into the wind. The Firebirds only had three first downs in three drives in the fourth quarter, including a 27-yard run by senior Jack Flynn on a fake punt.

“We were just trying to figure out how we could attack their defense,” Lisher said. “Whatever we tried, they had an answer for.”

The Panthers (11-1) scored on their first drive of the second half. Senior dual-threat quarterback Brady Rust connected with junior receiver Kenyon Tabor for a 37-yard pass on third-and-11 to keep the drive alive before Rust ran into the end zone for a four-yard touchdown.

Rust ran for 135 yards and three touchdowns on 34 attempts, and he tossed for 219 yards and a touchdown.

“I thought we did pretty well on their quarterback in the run game,” FSHS junior linebacker Jay Dineen said. “He threw the ball pretty well. Just a couple big plays, and we’re still in that game.”

Late in the third quarter, desperate for offense, the Firebirds kept their offense on the field for a fourth-and-two from their own 31-yard line. Torneden picked up the critical first down with an eight-yard run, and four plays later, Torneden ran for a 45-yard touchdown along the Free State sideline.

“Somebody has to step up,” said Torneden, who ran for 94 yards. “I think I’m that guy. I wanted to provide for my team. I felt like I could do it.”

But Derby’s defense buckled down.

The Firebirds (8-4) turned the ball over on downs at midfield in the fourth quarter, and Torneden was intercepted on a pass deep in FSHS territory in the final minutes.

“I thought we played well enough defensively to compete,” Lisher said. “We just couldn’t get anything going offensively.”

The Firebirds were held to just five rushing yards on 14 carries in the first half.

But even with the offense struggling, junior cornerback Zack Sanders made sure the Firebirds found their way onto the scoreboard. After watching the Panthers complete short passes to move down the field, Sanders jumped a route, grabbed an interception and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown midway through the second quarter.

“We thought they were going to be running deep routes, but they came out and ran little hitches all day long,” Sanders said. “Coach told me to play up. I knew he was going to throw it to my side eventually, so I just jumped the pass and read the quarterback’s eyes.”

The Panthers responded by taking advantage of the Firebirds’ aggressiveness. Right after Sanders’ interception, Tabor used a double-move along the sideline, faking a hitch before running a deep route, for a 43-yard completion. On the next play, senior running back Kristian Breedlove ran for a 17-yard touchdown, giving the Panthers a 14-7 lead.

After forcing a three-and-out punt on the next possession, the Panthers added a three-yard touchdown run by Rust.

“We couldn’t get it going on offense, and that resulted in what happened,” FSHS senior running back Sam Skwarlo said.

The Panthers will face Blue Valley (10-2) in the 6A state championship at 1 p.m. on Nov. 28 at Emporia State University.

FS DER

First downs 9 17

Rushes-yards 33-139 55-162

Passing yards 81 219

Total offense 220 381

Return yards 27 33

Fumbles-lost 0-0 0-0

Penalties-yards 2-7 3-25

Score by quarters

Free State 0 7 7 0 — 14

Derby 0 21 7 7 — 35

Individual statistics

Rushing

FS: Bryce Torneden 20-94 TD, Sam Skwarlo 10-14, Zion Bowlin 2-4, Jack Flynn 1-27.

DER: Brady Rust 34-135 3 TD, Kristian Breedlove 18-30 TD, Brody Kooser 3-(negative) 3.

Passing

FS: Torneden 8-20-81 INT, Bowlin 0-1-0.

DER: Rust 13-20-219 TD and INT

Receiving

FS: Zack Sanders 5-59, Darian Lewis 1-10, Daniel Bryant 1-7, Flynn 1-5.

DER: Kenyon Tabor 7-136, Lachlan Jones 3-19, Kaleb Kelley 2-35 TD, Kai Lemons 1-29.

HOW THEY SCORED

Second quarter

11:55 — Kaleb Kelley 3 pass from Brady Rust. Jacob Moeder kick. (DER 7, FS 0.)

6:02 — Zack Sandres 46 interception return. Kameron Lake kick. (FS 7, DER 7.)

4:34 — Kristian Breedlove 17 run. Moeder kick. (DER 14, FS 7.)

1:14 — Rust 3 run. Moeder kick. (DER 21, FS 7.)

Third quarter

9:35 — Rust 4 run. Moeder kick. (DER 28, FS 7.)

0:31 — Bryce Torneden 45 run. Lake kick. (DER 28, FS 14.)

Fourth quarter

1:22 — Rust 4 run. Moeder kick. (DER 35, FS 14.)