photo by: Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photo

Jax Dineen (33) rushes past a Wichita North defender for touchdown in a Firebirds win over Wichita North in a 6A state football regional game on Friday, Oct. 26, 2018 at Free State High School.

On its second offensive drive, Wichita North was faced with third and 26 after a holding call and a Free State sack. Instead of trying to advance the ball, the Redskins decided to punt on third down to pin the ball inside the 20-yard line.

It was somewhat effective, as that was just one of five drives where the Firebirds punt return unit didn’t see the field. After an undefeated regular season, Free State (9-0) is one step closer to Emporia, the site of the 6A state championship game, after its 61-18 win over Wichita North Friday night at FSHS.

“Our special teams played well, defensively we made some stops and scored a couple points and touchdowns, offensively we scored quick,” Lisher said. “We got a lot of people in the game and we came out healthy, so that was the main thing.”

photo by: Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photo

From left, Firebird teammates Cole Phillips (10), and LJ Mack (13) celebrate with senior Jaxson Webb (15) after Webb scored a touchdown in the Firebirds’ win over Wichita North in a 6A state football regional game on Friday, Oct. 26, 2018 at Free State High School.

The special teams unit with Ben Miller, LJ Mack and Tyler Bowden scored three touchdowns in the first half. The Firebirds defensive line of Devon Buck, Brandon Zeller and Frankie Calderon put pressure on the Redskins’ punter and made plays early in the game

“We wanted to score on all drives of the game,” Mack said.

Miller blocked a punt, and scooped his own fumble to score the first points of the night. Mack returned a punt 61 yards following Wichita North’s third drive of the game.

For the Firebirds’ second punt return, Mack was surrounded at midfield after a reverse from Bowden. Breaking three tackles, Mack turned on the jets at the 45-yard line for the score. With two touchdowns, Mack had over 100 yards of special teams in the first half along with 25 receiving yards.

“I went over and I was like alright, we have to do this reverse,” Mack said. “There’s five people, so I am going to just cut it back and try to find the right spot for it, I guess I just found and made something out of nothing, got in the endzone and used my speed.”

photo by: Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photo

Free State wide receiver LJ Mack, (13) center, runs between Firebird blockers Jacobee Williams (29), left, and Oliver Paranjothi (14) on a touchdown run in the first quarter of a Firebirds win over Wichita North in a 6A state football regional game Friday, Oct. 26, 2018 at Free State High School.

On his first carry for 21 yards, senior Jax Dineen hit the 1,000-yard milestone for rushing yards on the season. Dineen averaged 21.6 yards per carry, finishing with 130 yards on six touches. As a team, the Firebirds averaged 11.9 yards per play on 30 offensive plays.

Junior outside linebacker Joey Eddis forced a fumble and returned it 60 yards to put the Firebirds up by 48 and force a running clock.

Wichita North ran a two-quarterback system with Tayton Jennings and Joe Williams, which Lisher said was an unorthodox look that is hard to prepare for.

Though he did not start, Keenan Garber saw the field for the Firebirds’ second offensive drive to start the second quarter. In place of starting quarterback Malik Berry, senior backup Jaxson Webb attempted two long passes to Garber before handing the ball off to him for a 57-yard gain. The Firebirds’ front played the game without Lovette Epelle and Turner Corcoran.

photo by: Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photo

Free State High School senior Jaxson Webb (15) runs for a touchdown in a Firebirds win over Wichita North in a 6A state football regional game Friday, Oct. 26, 2018 at FSHS.

Webb scored twice on the ground while leading the Firebirds offense on Friday. He also compLeted two of his four passes for 25 yards.

Lisher substituted in nearly every active member of its extended playoff roster. To close out the game, sophomore Sun Rolf went under center and had an 8-yard carry. He also handed it off to freshman Elijah Harshaw, who had a 30-yard run.

“We had a lot of young guys step in, and a lot of young guys get to play,” Lisher said. “We couldn’t quite get everyone in, but we were close.”

Despite such an easy win, Lisher said his program does not have their eyes set on a trip to face No. 1 seeded Derby quite yet.

“If we do (look ahead), we won’t get to see Derby,” Lisher said. “The teams ahead of us are pretty good.”

Free State will play host to Haysville-Campus (6-3) at 7 p.m. Friday.

FREE STATE 61, WICHITA NORTH 18

WN | FS

First downs 12 | 11

Rushes-yards 43-132 | 26-333

Passing yards 182 | 25

Total offense 314 | 358

Fumbles-lost 3-1 | 1-1

Interceptions 0 | 0

Penalties-yards 2-15 | 4-45

Score by quarters

Wichita North 0 6 6 6 — 18

Free State 20 20 14 7 — 61

Individual statistics

Rushing

WN: Jaquan Stewart 6-12, Joe Williams 26-116, Tayton Jenkins 6-(minus 4), Isiah Jackson 2-21.

FS: Jax Dineen 6-130, Jaxson Webb 7-56, LJ Mack 1-0, Keenan Garber 1-57, Ja’Brandian Douglas 2-12, Tyler Bowden 6-45, Sun Rolf 1-8, Elijah Harshaw 1-30.

Passing

WN: Tayton Jenkins 8-11-177, Joe Williams 1-3-5.

FS: Jaxson Webb 2-4-25.

Receiving

WN: Chris Zaricki 6-99, Joe Williams 2-63, Jaquan Stewart 1-20.

FS: LJ Mack 2-25.

HOW THEY SCORED

First quarter

10:28 — Ben Miller 30 blocked punt return. Joey Wood kick good. (FS 7, WN 0)

2:43 — Jax Dineen 30 run. Run fails. (FS 13, WN 0)

1:22 — LJ Mack 61 punt return. Wood kick good. (FS 20, WN 0)

Second quarter

8:11 — Jaxson Webb 9 run. Wood kick good. (FS 27, WN 0)

5:57 — Dineen 38 run. Wood kick wide left. (FS 33, WN 0)

3:38 — Mack 50 punt return. Wood kick good. (FS 40, WN 0)

43.4 — Chris Zaricki 22 pass from Tayton Jenkins. Kick blocked. (FS 40, WN 6)

Third quarter

9:40 — Webb 32 run. Wood kick good (FS 47, WN 6)

8:30 — Joey Eddis 60 fumble recovery. Wood kick good (FS 54, WN 6)

2:58 — Zaricki 14 pass from Joe Williams. Pass fails. (FS 54, WN 12)

Fourth quarter

8:35 — Tyler Bowden 18 run. Wood kick good. (FS 61, WN 12)

3:12 — Zaricki 18 pass from Williams. Pass fails. (FS 61, WN 18)