photo by: Carter Gaskins/Journal-World photo

Free State's Tristan Tran (69) celebrates a sack on Olathe Northwest quarteback Merak Greinert (12) Friday, Sept. 8, 2023, at College Boulevard Activity Center.

Olathe — The Free State football team earned its second straight road victory in Olathe on Friday, after defeating Olathe Northwest 26-0 at the College Boulevard Activity Center.

The Firebirds (2-0), took control late in the first half with a 16-point second quarter, but it was the defenses that set the tone early on both sides with each making crucial stops to keep the game scoreless through the opening 12 minutes of play.

“I’m just happy to be 2-0,” FSHS coach Kevin Stewart said. “These guys have been working really hard and trying to improve. We ask them to go 1-0 every single week and they’ve done that twice in a row.”

Despite two long first quarter Free State drives, the Ravens defense stopped two potential field goal attempts to hold the Firebirds scoreless after the first quarter. Free State’s defense did its part, only allowing one first down in the opening quarter.

The Firebirds started the second quarter strong by forcing a safety. Several Firebirds converged on Olathe Northwest quarterback Merak Greinert to bring him down in the end zone, giving FSHS the first two points of the ballgame with 11:21 left in the first half.

Several more stops by gave Free State the ball back in plus territory for quarterback Wesley Edison. Edison took it in himself from 11-yards out, which handed the visitors a 9-0 lead midway through the second quarter.

Free State continued to pound the ground game on its next drive. After several strong runs from Edison and running back Ryan Weishaar, Edison rushed it in from two yards to earn his second score of the night and put his team up 16-0 late in the opening half, which remained the score at halftime.

After Free State forced a punt on the opening second-half drive for Olathe Northwest, Edison showed off his passing ability with a 40-yard strike to Devon Hamilton to score. This handed Free State a 23-0 advantage with still 7:58 left in the third quarter.

The Firebirds took control with the ground game once again to close out the third quarter, as they took off nearly seven minutes on their next drive, capping it with a 27-yard field goal from Yusef Iskandrani, extending their lead to 26-0 early in the fourth quarter.

An interception from Amare Laney sealed the deal for the shutout victory for Free State, and the Firebirds ran out the clock out on their final drive for their second win of the season heading into their home opener on Friday.

The Firebirds will head back to Lawrence to play in their first home game Friday against Olathe East. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, at Free State High School.

“We told them to enjoy tonight but tomorrow we have to get better,” Stewart said. “I think Olathe East will be our toughest opponent of the first three games. We’ll see what they look like and we’ll see how we do this week.”

GAME STATS

Free State 26, Olathe Northwest 0

FS | ONW

First downs 20 | 4

Rushes-yards 45-220 | 20-53

Passing yards 113 | 35

Total offense 333 | 88

Fumbles-lost 1-1 | 1-1

Interceptions 0 | 1

Penalties-yards 7-50 | 4-22

Score by quarters

Free State 0 16 7 3 – 26

Olathe Northwest 0 0 0 0 – 0

HOW THEY SCORED

2nd Quarter:

11:21 – Free State team safety. (FS 2 ONW 0)

06:02 – Wesley Edison 11-yard run. Yusef Iskandrani kick good. (FS 9 ONW 0)

02:39 – Edison 2-yard run. Iskandrani kick good. (FS 16 ONW 0)

3rd Quarter:

07:58 – Devon Hamilton 40-yard pass from Edison. Iskandrani kick good. (FS 23 ONW 0)

4th Quarter:

10:49 – Iskandrani 27-yard field goal good. (FS 26 ONW 0)

Individual statistics

Rushing:

FS: Wesley Edison 29-142; Ryan Weishaar 14-80; Antario Lattimore Douglas 2-(-2)

ONW: Dallas Keaton 15-30; Merak Greinert 5-23

Passing

FS: Wesley Edison 12-20-113

ONW: Merak Greinert 5-10-35

Receiving

FS: Bralin Preston 4-33; Devon Hamilton 3-49, Liam Stramberg 1-(-2), Landon Leipold 3-34, Josiah Moss 1-(-1),

ONW: Alex Kroeker 1-11; Dallas Keaton 3-20; Brylar Gildart 1-4

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Journal-World photo

Free State quarterback Wesley Edison (7) runs through Olathe Northwest’s Jack Skarda (60) and George Leslie (5) Friday, Sept. 8, 2023, at College Boulevard Activity Center.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Journal-World photo

Free State Quarterback Wesley Edison (7) winds back to throw a long ball down the field Friday, Sept. 8, 2023, at College Boulevard Activity Center.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Journal-World photo

Free State’s Bralin Preston (9) catches a thrown ball around Olathe Northwest’s Mason Schlittenhard (6) Friday, Sept. 8, 2023, at College Boulevard Activity Center.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Journal-World photo

Free State quarterback Wesley Edison (7) makes a move around Olathe Northwest’s Mason Schlittenhard (6) Friday, Sept. 8, 2023, at College Boulevard Activity Center.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Journal-World photo

Free State’s Bralin Preston (9) catches a thrown ball over Olathe Northwest’s Jack Porras (24) Friday, Sept. 8, 2023, at College Boulevard Activity Center.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Journal-World photo

Free State receiver Landon Leipold looks to make a move during the game against Olathe Northwest on Friday Sept. 8, 2023 at College Boulevard Activity Center.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Journal-World photo

Free State’s Parker Moore (8) tackles Olathe Northwest quarterback Merak Greinart (12) Friday, Sept. 8, 2023, at College Boulevard Activity Center.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Journal-World photo

Free State’s Hyrum Vaeono (55) celebrates a safety call early in the second quarter Friday, Sept. 8, 2023, at College Boulevard Activity Center.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Journal-World photo

Free State linebacker Parker Moore (8) tackles Olathe Northwest quarterback Brett Pearcy (10) Friday, Sept. 8, 2023, at College Boulevard Activity Center.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Journal-World photo

Free State quarterback Wesley Edison (7) stretches past Olathe Northwest’s Mason Schlittenhard (11) and Riley Jankel (4) for the touchdown Friday, Sept. 8, 2023, at College Boulevard Activity Center.