photo by: Mike Yoder

Free State quarterback Jet Dineen (12) runs the ball during FSHS’s 42-34 loss to De Soto Friday night at Free State.

Under 48 hours before its Week 2 matchup, Free State is left scrambling in attempt to find a new opponent. Lincoln College Prep (Mo.) backed out of this week’s game as a precautionary move due to a recent positive test for one Free State player, FSHS head coach Kevin Stewart and Athletic Director Amanda Faunce confirmed to the Lawrence Journal-World Wednesday night.

FSHS, which is 0-1 after a season-opening loss to De Soto, is still hoping to play on Friday and is currently seeking a new opponent. Stewart told the Journal-World on Wednesday that the Firebirds were expecting to be without “three or four starters” and lacked depth at nearly every position ahead of its Week 2 matchup.

As reported earlier in the week, the Lawrence school district announced Sunday that one Free State player had tested positive for COVID some time after attending practice Thursday. The student did not play in the Firebirds’ opener, but the health department recommended that one coach and 37 other players quarantine through Sept. 17.

It is just the latest schedule change in a year that has featured so many.

Free State’s football program has dealt with a number of schedule updates, starting when the Olathe and Shawnee Mission school districts elected to postpone the 2020 football season to next spring. That decision led to FSHS and LHS agreeing to play each other twice this year.

Then about 24 hours before the season opener, the Olathe school board voted to overturn the district’s decision to postpone the fall sports seasons. As a result, the two local programs elected to call off the city showdown in Week 3 and both teams added an Olathe school back to their respective schedule.

Free State is now slated to host Olathe North on Sept. 18.

FSHS 2020 schedule

Sept. 4: De Soto 42, FSHS 34

Sept. 11: TBD

Sept. 18: vs Olathe North

Sept. 25: at Lee’s Summit North (Mo.)

Oct. 2: at Mill Valley

Oct. 9: at Bishop Carroll

Oct. 15: at Shawnee Mission East

Oct. 23: vs. Lawrence