Before Free State High’s football team started its current four-game winning streak, the Firebirds were trounced at home by Shawnee Mission East.

After that game, Free State’s starting offensive linemen sent text messages to each other in a group text that they needed to raise intensity in practice.

Since then, they’ve dominated. The Firebirds are averaging 389 yards per game on offense in their win streak, they won the Class 6A District 5 title, and they’re hoping to keep rolling in the first round of the state playoffs against Wichita Northwest at 7 tonight at FSHS.

“We definitely wanted the home game,” senior center Coleman Houk said. “We didn’t want to have to go on that four-hour bus ride for the first round so we’re happy about that.”

On offense, the Firebirds (6-3, ranked No. 5 in 6A by Kpreps.com) have plenty to be happy about. They’ve been able to move the ball on the ground and through the air, and complete long scoring drives. But against SM East, it wasn’t that easy.

“I don’t think in all our years that we’ve played, we’ve gotten beat that bad by anybody at our level,” Houk said. “That was kind of a wake-up call for us.”

With the raised intensity in practice that followed, the offensive line — Houk, left tackle Scott Frantz, left guard Shane Hofer, right guard Josiah LeBrun and right tackle Tanner Liba — focused on making blocks on linebackers, and it’s made a world of difference.

“We definitely have been playing better,” said the 6-foot-6, 290-pound Frantz, a Kansas State commit. “We’re coming off the ball a lot harder than we were. I think we’re finally starting to get comfortable.”

It’s also helped Free State to get several injured defensive starters back on the field. However, the Firebirds will be without senior defensive end and tight end Blake Murray for the remainder of the season after he tore his ACL and meniscus in his right knee while making a block in last week’s victory.

Wichita Northwest (7-2) has an explosive offense, run similar to Topeka High, with several athletic players at skill positions. The Grizzlies’ defense also doesn’t give up many points, allowing more than 14 in just three games this season, but Free State’s offensive linemen have plans to lead the way and create success as they’ve done throughout the win streak.

“We’ve got some guys who stepped up,” Houk said. “We’ve come together and we’re doing well.”

FSHS probable starters

Offense

LT — Scott Frantz, sr.

LG — Shane Hofer, sr.

C — Coleman Houk, sr.

RG — Josiah LeBrun, sr.

RT — Tanner Liba, jr.

QB — Bryce Torneden, jr.

RB — Carson Bowen, sr.

H — Joel Spain, sr.

WR — Tye Carter, sr.

WR — Andrew Keating, sr.

TE — Darian Lewis, jr.

K — Joel Spain, sr.

P — Tye Carter, sr.

Defense

DE — Jalen Galloway, jr.

NG — Michael Georgie, sr.

DE — Shane Hofer, sr.

OLB — Drew Tochtrop, jr.

MLB — Jay Dineen, so.

LB — Paul Bittinger, jr.

LB — Zion Bowlin, so.

OLB — Carson Bowen, sr.

CB — Andrew Keating, sr.

CB — Joel Spain, sr.

FS — Bryce Torneden jr.