Firebirds click in rout of SM South

When Free State High’s football team is playing at its best, there aren’t many teams that can keep up. Shawnee Mission South learned that the hard way Friday.

The Firebirds were dominant on both sides of the ball in a 56-6 victory in the school’s homecoming game at FSHS.

In the first half, the Firebirds scored on their first four possessions and held the Raiders (0-6) to just 35 yards of offense and three first downs.

“It’s amazing,” senior lineman Tanner Liba said, “especially not winning on the home field for the whole year, then coming back on homecoming night and just beating a team like that. It’s a great feeling.”

Free State junior receiver Zack Sanders started the scoring with a 49-yard touchdown reception on a post route over the middle — the same play he used to score a long touchdown against Olathe North earlier this season.

“Yeah, same route,” Sanders said. “See it against every team with two-high safeties. We just use it to our advantage.”

Then the Firebirds (3-3) showed off their ground game. Sam Skwarlo ran for a 52-yard touchdown on their second possession, bouncing a run up the middle to the left sideline. He added a 23-yard touchdown run off an option play on the next drive, running behind Chase Houk, Jay Dineen and Garrett Swisher on the left side of the line.

Skwarlo finished with 118 yards and two touchdown on 10 attempts — all in the first half.

Early in the second quarter, FSHS senior quarterback Bryce Torneden tossed a 70-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Jack Flynn on a post route toward the sidelines for a 28-0 lead.

“All night it was open — it’s been open all season, actually,” Flynn said with a laugh. “But tonight we just connected, and it was a nice play. It was a lot of fun.”

Torneden, who tossed for 170 yards and two touchdowns, ran for a 13-yard touchdown in the final minute before halftime. He finished with 74 rushing yards and didn’t take a snap in the second half, along with most FSHS starters.

After opening the season with an 0-3 record, the Firebirds are oozing confidence, especially defensively. They haven’t allowed a point in their last six quarters, only giving up points when SM South junior Cam Union had an 89-yard kick-return touchdown in the third quarter.

Free State’s defense set up two scores in the third quarter. After forcing a three-and-out, with help from a sack by senior linebacker Drew Tochtrop, Sanders had a 36-yard punt-return touchdown. Sophomore David Johnson added a defensive touchdown when he scooped up a fumble and ran 26 yards into the end zone.

“Actually, that was an accident,” Sanders said of his punt return. “Bryce (Torneden) told me to take the other side (of the field), so I was like, ‘OK, I will.’ I happened to see a crease and made it to the end zone.”

With the second-team offense, the Firebirds added another touchdown in the second half when junior Zion Bowlin ran for a 13-yard touchdown following a few long runs by backup quarterback Gage Foster.

After the final horn sounded, the Firebirds celebrated with their families and classmates on the field and had fun in the locker room.

“Everyone is just like dancing and smiling in there right now,” senior lineman Jalen Galloway said. “Just having a good time. It’s a great feeling.”

SMS FS

First downs 6 15

Rushes-yards 37-55 44-313

Passing yards 15 170

Total offense 70 483

Return yards 175 54

Fumbles-lost 2-1 0-0

Penalties-yards 2-10 7-60

Score by quarters

SM South 0 0 6 0 — 6

Free State 21 14 21 0 — 56

Individual statistics

Rushing

SMS: Zach McQueen 13-5, Tyler Law 5-16, Michael Carter 1-2, Cam Union 9-18, Cooper Patterson 5-11, Kyhiem Matthews 2-(negative) 1, Will Choate 2-4.

FS: Sam Skwarlo 10-118 2 TD, Bryce Torneden 8-74 TD, Zion Bowlin 5-32 TD, Zack Sanders 1-0, Gage Foster 10-65, Gabe DelValle 3-(negative) 1, Craig Travis 7-25.

Passing

SMS: McQueen 2-7-15, Choate 0-1-0.

FS: Torneden 4-7-170 2 TD.

Receiving

SMS: Patterson 1-12, Brock Minton 1-3.

FS: Sanders 2-79 TD, Logan McKinney 1-21, Jack Flynn 1-70 TD.

HOW THEY SCORED

First quarter

10:10 — Zack Sanders 49 pass from Bryce Torneden. Kameron Lake kick. (FS 7, SMS 0)

6:29 — Sam Skwarlo 52 run. Lake kick. (FS 14, SMS 0)

1:08 — Skwarlo 23 run. Lake kick. (FS 21, SMS 0)

Second quarter