Free State's Michael Georgie holds up the regional championship trophy after Free State beat Wichita Northwest, 27-16, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2014, at FSHS.

The state playoffs are all about survival, and that’s exactly what Free State High did in a 27-16 football victory over Wichita Northwest on Friday at FSHS.

Free State’s offense had five fourth-down conversions.

The Grizzlies (7-3) had the ball six times inside Free State’s 25-yard line, but they scored just 10 points because of a missed 24-yard field goal, a timely holding penalty, two lost fumbles and a turnover on downs.

The Firebirds also kept a one-point lead in the fourth quarter because of a missed extra point, a kick tipped at the line of scrimmage.

“We were backed in our red zone a lot, but, I mean, we just fought and clawed our way to the win,” FSHS senior cornerback and receiver Andrew Keating said. “We just came up and made big plays when we need to. That’s pretty much our defense.”

Early, the Firebirds (7-3, ranked No. 5 in Class 6A) didn’t have many answers for Northwest’s run game, as the Grizzlies’ rapid, no-huddle offense caused havoc, creating 411 yards of offense throughout the night.

But every time the Grizzlies looked on the verge of scoring in the first half, Free State’s bend-but-don’t-break defense snapped back with big tackles in the backfield by senior nose tackle Michael Georgie, junior Jalen Galloway and sophomore middle linebacker Jay Dineen.

Trailing 7-3 in the first quarter, the Firebirds made their first stop in the red zone, a turnover on downs, then drove 80 yards in seven plays to take a 10-7 lead. On that scoring drive, a fourth-down conversion by junior running back Khaury El-Amin, who appeared to be limited with a twisted ankle, helped set up a 29-yard touchdown run from senior running back Carson Bowen.

With the game tied in the second half, Keating started stepping up in the biggest moments. He ended a Northwest drive at midfield with a tackle on fourth-and-one, then caught an 18-yard pass on a fourth-and-11 on the ensuing FSHS drive, which led to five-yard touchdown run from junior quarterback Bryce Torneden, giving the Firebirds a 17-10 lead in the third quarter.

“I was manned up on the tight end, and I just took a risk,” the 5-foot-11, 160-pound Keating said of his tackle. “I had a feeling he wasn’t going to go out for a pass, so I just blitzed, and luckily I came up big with the play.”

The Grizzlies moved the ball near the red zone on their next three drives, but only scored once — on a 28-yard touchdown run on a direct snap to senior receiver Karol Williams on a fourth-and-one — because of two lost fumbles.

“We’ve got to shore some things up,” FSHS coach Bob Lisher said. “But when it came down to it, when guys had to make some stops, they got some stops, and that’s what had to happen.”

The Firebirds were without senior punter Tye Carter for most of the game because of a hamstring injury, which forced the offense to stay on the field for most fourth downs. When they did try to punt midway through the fourth quarter with a one-point lead, Dineen drew a roughing-the-punter penalty.

The Firebirds took advantage by scoring three plays later, when Torneden found senior receiver Joel Spain for a 29-yard touchdown for a 24-16 advantage. Spain, a center fielder in baseball who can use his speed to make tough catches look easy, caught the ball, spun to the middle of the field, and nobody was going to catch him as the Free State sideline erupted in celebration.

With one more stop needed, it was Keating — again — who stepped up, this time a drive-ending interception in the final two minutes.

“I don’t really know. I can’t really explain it,” Keating said of his knack to make clutch plays. “I’m speechless, really. This was an awesome game.”

The Firebirds will travel to Junction City (8-2) for the second round of the playoffs Friday.