Lawrence High quarterback Alan Clothier, left, and Bryce Torneden will meet in the City Showdown at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, at LHS.

Brothers Bryce and Camren Torneden have deep football roots. Bryce is a Free State high school junior quarterback and Camren is a senior running back at Baker University.

Free State High junior quarterback Bryce Torneden spent his first two years at FSHS as a backup to Joe Dineen, but his knowledge of the Firebirds’ offense started long before he became a part of the program.

In 2008, Bryce’s brother Camren, now a running back and kick returner at Baker University, found himself in the same situation as the starting quarterback for the Firebirds in his junior season. FSHS started the season 3-3 in 2008, but Camren sparked the Firebirds in district and postseason play, leading Free State all the way to the state championship game.

“That was one of the best years of my life. It started out a little rough, but we finished out the season strong,” Camren said. “We went as far as we did, being the runner-up in the state game. That was another one of those games that you always look back on and you’ll never forget.”

Bryce Up To The Challenge

Much like Camren did during his playing days at FSHS, Bryce has used his mobility to ignite the Firebirds’ offense. Bryce has rushed for 206 yards and three touchdowns on 42 carries this season and is continuing to work on the passing game, completing 12-of-27 passes for 157 yards, a score and an interception.

Bryce and the Firebirds are off to a .500 start after defeating Shawnee Mission West and falling to Olathe North. With several more difficult Sunflower League matchups lying ahead, Bryce is excited for all of the challenges that the season will bring, especially the opportunity to set an example for his teammates.

“Probably the leadership role that I get to play,” Bryce said. “I’m sure Camren likes that, too, or did like that now that he’s a running back. I just like having the weight of the team on my shoulders and just having everyone look up to me.”

Camren’s journey

Although Camren is no longer a quarterback, he has not backed down from being a leader in his second season at Baker. Camren wasted little time learning Baker’s offense, and becoming a veteran presence on the team.

“He’s got his head in the playbook. Last year was his first year,” fellow Baker running back Scott Meyer said. “He was fairly new to this offense, and now he’s seasoned. He knows the playbook, and that’s what he really worked on.”

Camren started his collegiate career at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, but the program was cut after his freshman year, so he transferred to the University of Central Missouri. The 5-foot 7-inch, 180-pound running back and kick returner started 10 of UCM’s 12 games in 2011 before redshirting in 2012.

After two schools in three years, how did Camren wind up at Baker for his junior season?

“Basically how it worked out is I went to recruit at Lawrence High and his mom works at Lawrence High, and she mentioned to me that he was looking for a place to play so I got super excited,” Baker defensive coordinator Jason Thoren said, who is also a former Lawrence High and Kansas University linebacker.

Baker is 2-0 and ranked No. 3 in the NAIA, and Camren has played a large role in the Wildcats’ first two wins. Camren has rushed for 172 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries and averaged 48 yards per return on three kickoffs.

When asked which he liked more, lining up in the backfield or returning kicks, Camren had to take a moment and think about it, and thought briefly back to being under center at Free State.

“I like playing quarterback,” Camren said with a half-serious face, followed by a laugh. “No, I’m playing. I like doing the return game. I feel like if there was a next level, that’s where I’d be. I just like to be in space, I like to move and make things happen.”

Closer to Bryce

One of the benefits Camren listed of transferring to Baker was only being 25 minutes away from home and being able to watch Bryce play at Free State. Camren has enjoyed watching Bryce play his former position, and admitted that he is jealous of him in numerous aspects.

“His athletic ability is insatiable. He’s 3, 4, 5 inches taller than me,” Camren said. “By the time he graduates, he’ll easily be 4.4 speed (in the 40-yard dash). He has nice size. He’s everything that I wanted.”

The jealously goes both ways, however.

“He’s still got me beat in the speed a little bit,” Bryce said. “I got a little bit of height on him, but I’d say we’re pretty similar players.”

Baker/Free State pipeline?

Perhaps one of the reasons Camren has become comfortable at Baker is because he’s one of 15 Firebirds on the Wildcats’ roster.

“(Camren) and my son (Michael Lisher) both signed at Nebraska-Omaha out of high school when Omaha still had a program,” Free State football coach Bob Lisher said. “My son went to Washburn and played and Camren went to Central Missouri and played. Somehow, some way through a lot of different things, they both ended up at Baker. I watched Camren play every game last year at Baker.”

Lisher credited Thoren’s ties to the Lawrence area to playing a big role in why 15 Firebirds and five Lawrence High alumni are playing for the Wildcats. Thoren said that the connection between Baker and the Lawrence high schools is one that has not just happened overnight.

“The first thing I sell to them is a great education. They have the opportunity to come in and have a great education,” Thoren said. “I think it says a lot about the coaches in Lawrence because I know those kids are prepared to play football. Both schools have great coaches. It’s one of those deals where it wouldn’t be that way if it weren’t for the ones before them.”