At an offseason workout, Free State senior receiver Daniel Bryant ran some routes and caught passes from his new quarterback, Dallas Crittenden.

Looking at Crittenden’s 5-foot-10, 170-pound frame, Bryant wasn’t sure what to expect from the Topeka Hayden transfer. But once he saw him zip a few passes, Bryant didn’t need to see any more to know that Crittenden had plenty of potential as a gunslinger.

Crittenden, in his first season at Free State, has thrown for 1,816 yards, only 47 yards shy of the single-season school record, set by Ryan Murphy in 2006. Crittenden will have an opportunity to put his name in the record book during Free State’s state quarterfinal matchup against Washburn Rural at 7 tonight at FSHS.

“The first time I ever saw Dallas throw, I knew he was a stud,” Bryant said. “He was going to come out here and he was going to change things. It doesn’t surprise me at all. I see it every day in practice so it doesn’t surprise me.”

There were some changes for Crittenden, adjusting to a new offense. He learned to play out of the shotgun and now he’s a more decisive runner. He has completed 63 percent of his passes (120 of 190) and tossed 17 touchdowns.

Has he met all of his expectations entering the season?

“I’ve exceeded them,” Crittenden said. “I just really came in this school with high hopes and stuff. It really made an impact on my life and on the football field. Even outside of the football field, I’ve exceeded all of my expectations. Moving here was a lot bigger than football and it’s just helped me a lot in my life.”

When he mentions his growth off of the field, he said he broke out of his shell. He made new friends. He’s helped himself in school.

A team-first quarterback, he’s proud of the chance to break the school passing record because of all the people that helped him get there. ?

“It’s a record that says my name but it’s really the team that helped me get it,” said Crittenden, crediting his linemen, receivers and playcallers. “It’s kind of a team-wide pride I feel like it should be.”

Crittenden is plenty familiar with players from seventh-seeded Washburn Rural (7-3), against whom he played in the Centennial League when he was at Hayden and in youth football.

The Junior Blues won their most games in a season since 1996 and upset previously-unbeaten Manhattan last week.

“They kind of remind me of us where they struggled a little bit early and they’ve gotten better, better and better each week,” Free State coach Bob Lisher said. “That’s why they are 7-3 and where they are right now. They’ve got good players, they are well coached and they’ve come together.”

One of the biggest benefits for the sixth-seeded Firebirds (8-2) is a chance to play another home game. After traveling more than 300 miles last week, they are more than happy to play in a stadium of their own fans.

“We definitely didn’t think we were going to get another one, so to get one is just such a huge perk,” Bryant said of the home game. “It’s awesome playing here. We all love it. To play here is a huge advantage.”

FSHS probable starters

Offense

LT — Chase Houk, sr.

LG — Jay Dineen, sr.

C — Nathan Spain, jr.

RG — Reese Todd, sr.

RT — Spencer Roe, jr.

QB — Dallas Crittenden, sr.

RB — Zion Bowlin, sr.

WR — Zack Sanders, sr.

WR — Daniel Bryant, sr.

WR — Bo Miller, jr.

TE — Noah Kema, sr.

K — Kameron Lake, so.

P — Jake Rittman, jr.

Defense

DT — Noah Kema, sr.

NT — Nathan Spain, jr.

DT — Nick Eddis, sr.

ROLB — Gage Foster, jr.

ILB — Jay Dineen, sr.

ILB — David Johnson, jr.

LOLB — Drew Wise, sr.

CB — Gabe del Valle, jr.

CB — Daniel Bryant, sr.

FS — Zack Sanders, sr.

SS — Zion Bowlin, sr.