Last Friday’s home playoff football victory against Shawnee Mission Northwest marked just the third postseason win in Free State High’s 11-year existence. Although the Firebirds have been a fixture in the Class 6A state playoffs since 2001, success has been tough to come by. Two of the program’s three wins came during the magical run of 2006, in which FSHS won two playoff games and reached the semifinals before falling to Shawnee Mission West. First Quarter of Free State’s first ever playoff victory vs. SM East in 2006The school’s third playoff triumph came Friday at Haskell Stadium against the Cougars. If the Firebirds are to rack up playoff victory No. 4 this Friday, they will have to repeat last week’s performance and defeat a team that had already beaten them earlier this season. The 41-21 victory over SMNW avenged a 34-27 loss from Week 3. This week’s opponent, Olathe North, knocked off the Firebirds 35-7 in Week 6. Before we look ahead at the match-ups, I thought now would be a good time to look back at Free State’s playoff success. The following is a list of all of Free State’s playoff wins and losses: Which games stand out for you as the most memorable? _Free State High football playoff appearances_ 1999 30-10 L vs. Blue Valley Northwest, finished 7-3
2001 48-0 L vs. Olathe North, finished 3-7
2002 21-17 L vs. SM East, finished 7-3
2003 55-16 L vs. Olathe East, finished 5-5
2004 26-20, OT L vs. SM West, finished 3-7
2005 40-18 L vs. SM West, finished 4-6
2006 20-9 W vs. SM East
2006 32-19 W vs. Olathe East
2006 31-14 L vs. SM West, finished 11-1
2007 46-29 L vs. Olathe South, finished 7-3
2008 41-21 W vs. SM Northwest
2008 ?????? vs. Olathe North