Fresh off a win against the top-ranked team in the state, Free State High’s football team showed its potential when playing at its best.

Now the Firebirds are focused on making sure they can stay at that level of play on a week-to-week basis, starting when they face Shawnee Mission South at 7 tonight at FSHS.

The Firebirds (2-3) beat Shawnee Mission East last week, 32-20, ending the defending state champions’ 17-game win streak.

“It built our self-esteem as a team and everything,” junior cornerback/receiver Zack Sanders said. “Coach has been saying all week that wins are contagious. Once you get your team working together, anything is possible, really.”

Last week, the Firebirds ran the ball for 334 yards against a top defense, but were especially proud of their defense for posting a shutout in the second half.

“We finally played to what we amount to really,” junior safety Zion Bowlin said. “All the athletes came together. All the line started growing (up).”

The Firebirds will face the Raiders (0-5), who are coached by Brett Oberzan, an 11-year assistant coach for Free State before taking the job at SM South during the last offseason.

It’s not a game that FSHS coach Bob Lisher looks forward to when he sees a familiar face on the opposing sideline.

“We’re friends and we’re going to be friends, but during the game, neither one of us is going to be friends,” Lisher said. “We’re going to try to win the football game. Coach Oberzan will have his guys prepared. I know they will play hard. I know they will be well-coached and he’ll do the best he can with what he’s got, just like we will.”

However, most of the Firebirds are excited to see Oberzan again, their former defensive coordinator.

“It’ll be fun playing against him because he knows all our offense,” Sanders said. “He’s been here for a bunch of years. It’ll just be fun playing against that because we know he’s going to prepare his team harder than he has.”

Beyond the reunion of their former coach, the Firebirds are focused on carrying their momentum from their last two wins.

“The first three games, we still hurt ourselves badly,” Lisher said. “We still had a chance to win the football game and we didn’t. Now that’s old news. We have to build on what we’ve done the last two weeks and continue to get better.”

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 — Sam Hambleton, jr. NG — Darian Lewis, sr. DT — Jalen Galloway, sr. OLB — Drew Wise, jr. 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.