After allowing 258 rushing yards in the first game of the season, Free State High football players have dedicated themselves to shutting down opposing run games.

In the three games following their season-opener, the Firebirds have given up 287 rushing yards on 88 attempts (3.26 yards per carry). They know it’ll be a big factor when they face Olathe South at 7 tonight at FSHS, the team’s first home game since Sept. 2.

“Olathe South loves to run the football,” FSHS coach Bob Lisher said. “We have to do a good job.”

One of the keys to stopping the run was developing chemistry between linebackers. Free State (2-2) senior Jay Dineen anchors the middle of the defense, along with junior inside linebacker David Johnson and sophomore Jax Dineen.

With a group of senior defensive linemen — Noah Kema, Sam Hambleton and Nick Eddis — focused on freeing up their linebackers to make tackles, Johnson and the Dineen brothers had to work on trusting each other to make plays.

“For me and Jay, it’s taken a little while,” Johnson said. “I think we’re finally comfortable with each other now. With our defense, you have trust the other linebacker that he’s going to be there all of the time. For the beginning of the summer, he wouldn’t really trust me. But we’ve gotten to a point now where he trusts me and I trust him, of course.”

At outside linebacker, the Firebirds feature senior Drew Wise and junior Gage Foster. Both of them stepped on the field last season, but stepped into a starting role this year.

“When we can stop the run successfully, then we can work on everything else,” Foster said. “We’re only as strong as our weakest link. We’re just getting better everywhere.”

The Falcons (1-3) are led by dual-threat quarterback Nick Jouret, who ran for three touchdowns last week. It’s the first dual-threat quarterback that the Firebirds will face since Shawnee Mission West in Week One.

“We’ve worked really hard,” Lisher said. “Shawnee Mission West threw some things at us that we weren’t ready for and we didn’t adjust very well. As the season has progressed, we’ve adjusted pretty well up front. Our guys are doing a much better job of doing their assignments.”

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 — Sam Hambleton, sr.

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.