Free State cornerback Kwinton Lassiter (21) signals an incomplete pass during the first quarter of the game on Sept. 15, 2017. Free State won 21-16.

Leading by five points with under two minutes remaining Friday, Free State High’s football team needed one more defensive stop.

On the field, Free State’s players were exhausted. Earlier in the fourth quarter, they allowed two scoring drives — the first two touchdowns the Firebirds’ starting defense has allowed all season.

But with the game on the line, the Firebirds weren’t going to give up an inch, earning a 21-16 victory over Park Hill (Mo.) on a defensive stand at their own 35-yard line at FSHS.

On fourth down, Free State junior Jax Dineen provided pressure on a blitz and senior cornerback Kwinton Lassiter broke up a pass, starting a wild celebration. Several players ran to hug Lassiter. Others raised their arms as they sprinted back toward the sideline.

“I almost started crying,” Free State senior linebacker Bo Miller said.

Prior to the fourth down play, Lassiter told Miller that he might need some help against Park Hill’s top receiver, Ronnie Bell (eight catches, 89 yards, two touchdowns). Miller pressed Bell at the line of scrimmage, which was a late-game adjustment by FSHS defensive coordinator Mike Gillman, to help disrupt the route.

Facing Park Hill’s offense, which averaged more than 44 points per game, the Firebirds forced two straight turnovers on downs at midfield. Park Hill had two touchdowns called back on penalties in the first half.

“One of the greatest feelings of my life,” senior linebacker David Johnson said, “and I’m not even kidding about that. … It was the toughest game of my life.”

The Firebirds (3-0, ranked No. 2 in Class 6A) spent all week studying film of Park Hill’s offense and they believe it made a world of difference. The game meant more to them because they were facing the top-ranked team in the metro area and they wanted to prove themselves.

Lassiter grabbed an interception in the first half, while sophomore lineman Turner Corcoran recovered a fumble after a long drive by the Trojans (4-1, ranked No. 1 in Missouri’s Class 6) to open the third quarter.

Johnson credited the defensive line of Corcoran, Nathan Spain, Spencer Roe, Lovette Epelle and Jalan Robinson.

“We’ve been watching their film like crazy,” Miller said. “We were so dialed in on this game. Our practices have been pretty intense.”

Free State’s offense started sharp, scoring touchdowns on its first two drives. In the first quarter, junior quarterback Jordan Preston completed seven of his first eight attempts. That included a three-yard touchdown to junior Cole Phillips and a 34-yard score to junior Keenan Garber for a 14-0 lead.

On the final possession of the first half, Preston was sacked for a 14-yard loss at the Firebirds’ own 38-yard line, one of the few times he was hit in the pocket. Looking to just run the clock out, Dineen bounced to the outside on a 32-yard run and added 15 more yards from a face mask penalty.

Two plays later, Preston found senior receiver Jake Rittman (nine catches, 82 yards) on a 15-yard touchdown pass, giving the Firebirds a 19-point advantage into halftime.

“It’s pretty a big time accomplishment for our program and our guys this time of year,” Free State coach Bob Lisher said. “It’s going to make us, I think, that much better of a football team. We made plays when we needed to make plays.”

After the win, Free State senior linebacker Gage Foster, who returned from a hamstring injury, reminded Lisher of his promise to the team. Next week, the Firebirds plan on giving him a new hairstyle.

“It’ll be fun,” Lisher said. “I’m kind of looking forward to it after this.”

FREE STATE 21, PARK HILL 16

PH | FS

First downs 15 | 14

Rushes-yards 35-152 | 24-99

Passing yards 160 | 184

Total offense 312 | 283

Fumbles-lost 2-1 | 1-0

Penalties-yards 9-90 | 7-63

Score by quarters

Park Hill 0 2 0 14 — 16

Free State 14 7 0 0 — 21

Individual statistics

Rushing

PH: Dorian Clayton 24-135, Billy Maples 9-10, Ronnie Bell 1-4, Joe Webb 1-3.

FS: Jax Dineen 12-79, Bo Miller 7-15, L.J. Mack 2-22, Jordan Preston 2-negative 20, Zach Wilson 1-3.

Passing

PH: Maples 17-29–160 2 TD and INT.

FS: Preston 21-32–184 3 TD, Jake Rittman 0-1-0.

Receiving

PH: Jordan Murphy 3-8, Bell 8-89 2 TD, Jaylin Noel 2-negative 3, Webb 4-66.

FS: Cole Phillips 3-10 TD, Rittman 9-82 TD, Miller 1-32, Colter Maldonado 2-3, Keenan Garber 2-35 TD, Dineen 3-18, Jaxon Webb 1-4.

HOW THEY SCORED

First quarter

8:47 — Cole Phillips 3 pass from Jordan Preston. Kameron Lake kick. (FS 7, PH 0.)

4:09 — Keenan Garber 34 pass from Preston. Lake kick. (FS 14, PH 0.)

Second quarter

9:46 — Bo Miller tackled in end zone for safety. (FS 14, PH 2.)

0:09 — Jake Rittman 15 pass from Preston. Lake kick. (FS 21, PH 2.)

Fourth quarter

10:05 — Ronnie Bell 29 pass from Billy Maples. Joe Webb pass from Maples. (FS 21, PH 10.)

7:33 — Bell 8 pass from Maples. Maples pass failed. (FS 21, PH 16.)