Free State junior linebacker David Johnson chases after Derby running back Brody Kooser (1) during the Class 6A state semifinals on Friday at Panther Stadium.

Back in the Class 6A state semifinals for the third straight season, Free State High football players were hoping that this year was different.

But the Firebirds were punished for every little mistake Friday, and they couldn’t recover against defending state champion Derby in a 49-21 loss at Panther Stadium.

The Panthers, on a 22-game winning streak, scored 35 unanswered points in the first half — finishing their first five drives with touchdowns and a successful onside kick mixed in.

“We hit adversity,” said FSHS junior Gage Foster, who ran for 61 yards and a touchdown. “It’s a big wall to hit, especially against a good team like this.”

The Firebirds started fast for a 7-0 lead in the first three minutes. Senior quarterback Dallas Crittenden connected with senior receiver Zack Sanders on three passes, including a nine-yard toss into the back of the end zone.

But as the Panthers have done all season, they responded quickly and forcefully. After Free State’s first punt, Derby quarterback Dan Dawdy threw a 49-yard touchdown pass on the next play.

“I give credit to them,” senior defensive lineman Noah Kema said. “They are the best team I’ve ever played in my life.”

Each time the Firebirds made a big play — they recorded four sacks and 10 tackles for loss in the first half — Derby would just make it up on the next snap.

Midway through the first quarter, juniors Foster and Bo Miller made tackles in the backfield and junior Nathan Spain registered a sack on three straight plays. On 4th-and-19 from the 30-yard line, Dawdy completed a 23-yard pass to 6-foot-3 junior receiver Michael Littleton. The next snap was a seven-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Kai Lemmons.

Dawdy completed 21 of his 29 passes for 343 yards and three touchdowns, spreading the ball around to Littleton (5 catches, 110 yards), Lemmons (7 catches, 81 yards) and Kenyon Tabor (9 catches, 152 yards), a 6-4 Kansas commit who had one-handed receptions and others with defenders draped around him.

“That was kind of the crux of the whole first half: get a big play and give up a big play,” Free State coach Bob Lisher said.

As the saying goes, when it rains, it pours. And for the Firebirds, it turned into a monsoon in the first half.

Down by 14 points, the Firebirds recovered a muffed punt at the 32-yard line. Three plays later, a Free State backward pass behind the line of scrimmage was scooped up by Derby senior linebacker Braeden Cooper. That turned into a 15-yard touchdown pass to Lemons.

Then Derby recovered its own onside kick, flipping a 14-point lead into a 35-7 advantage.

“Obviously momentum is a big thing in a football game,” Kema said. “For me personally, I try to keep my momentum in my heart. I want to lift everyone up. But that scoreboard is daunting.”

The Firebirds, who ended the season with a 9-3 record, still showed some fight despite its biggest deficit of the season. After they forced a turnover on downs at the end of the second quarter, Sanders caught a 49-yard pass and senior running back Zion Bowlin followed on the next play with a four-yard touchdown run.

But there was too much ground to make up in the second half and injuries started to pile up. Senior offensive lineman Chase Houk, Sanders and Bowlin were all forced to exit. Then senior linebacker Jay Dineen was ejected for multiple unsportsmanlike penalties at the end of the second quarter.

“It’s hard to stay level headed when you are down that much,” Kema said. “It is what it is. I’m proud to be a part of this school and this program.”

It was the second consecutive season that the Firebirds walked off of Derby’s field with tears in their eyes. Despite the disappointment from a season-ending loss, they remained proud of what they accomplished throughout the season.

“Getting to the semifinal game is pretty tough,” Lisher said. “Then when you play the best team in the state, it’s even tougher.”

Derby will play unbeaten Blue Valley (12-0) in the 6A state title game, a rematch of last year, at 1 p.m. on Nov. 26 at Emporia State. Blue Valley beat Shawnee Mission East in overtime, 35-34.

Derby 49, Free State 21

FS | DER

First downs 12 | 20

Rushes-yards 31-106 | 37-146

Passing yards 126 | 343

Total offense 232 | 489

Fumbles-lost 1-1 | 3-2

Penalties-yards 6-70 | 10-87

Score by quarters

Free State 7 7 0 7 — 21

Derby 21 14 7 7 — 49

Individual statistics

Rushing

FS: Zion Bowlin 10-52 TD, Dallas Crittenden 6-negative 21, Gage Foster 10-61 TD, Jax Dineen 2-3, Jalen Nash 3-11.

DER: Brody Kooser 13-52 3 TD, Dan Dawdy 13-32 TD, Kai Lemons 2-9, Hunter Igo 6-54, Jackson Syring 3-negative 1.

Passing

FS: Crittenden 9-26-126 TD.

DER: Dawdy 21-29-343 3 TD.

Receiving

FS: Zack Sanders 5-96 TD, Keenan Garber 2-13, Jake Rittman 1-18, Daniel Bryant 1-9.

DER: Kenyon Tabor 9-152, Michael Littleton 5-110 TD, Lemons 9-81 2 TD.

HOW THEY SCORED

First quarter

9:18 — Zack Sanders 9 pass from Dallas Crittenden. Kameron Lake kick. (FS 7, DER 0.)

6:20 — Brody Kooser 7 run. Blayten Tullis kick. (DER 7, FS 7.)

4:46 — Michael Littleton 49 pass from Dan Dawdy. Tullis kick. (DER 14, FS 7.)

0:20 — Kai Lemons 7 pass from Dawdy. Tullis kick. (DER 21, FS 7.)

Second quarter

7:38 — Lemons 15 pass from Dawdy. Tullis kick. (DER 28, FS 7.)

6:10 — Dawdy 2 run. Tullis kick. (DER 35, FS 7.)

1:24 — Zion Bowlin 4 run. Lake kick. (DER 35, FS 14.)

Third quarter

5:39 — Kooser 15 run. Tullis kick. (DER 42, FS 14.)

Fourth quarter

11:30 — Kooser 10 run. Tullis kick. (DER 49, FS 14.)

7:09 — Gage Foster 6 run. Lake kick. (DER 49, FS 21.)