photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence quarterback Joey Dooley crosses the goal line for a touchdown as Free State's Jude Dowdle trails behind him in the City Showdown football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Lawrence High School in Lawrence.

At long last, the Lions got the win.

Lawrence (1-7) defeated Free State (5-3) 24-6 in the 2025 football City Showdown on Friday night at Lawrence High School to conclude the regular season for both teams.

The Firebirds entered the game with five wins and a smashmouth offense that led the team to nearly over 30 points per game. On Friday, however, the much-maligned Lawrence run defense was the difference maker.

Lawrence came into the contest winless, playing for pride and for momentum going into the playoffs. Now, they’ve got the momentum and an identity to lean on.

“They played with a lot of passion and spirit,” Lawrence coach Jason Thoren said. “They’ve played hard all year and kept pushing. They didn’t stop.”

Lawrence started with the ball and got good field position with senior linebacker Josh Galbreath returning the kick to the Lawrence 36-yard line.

Junior Ethan Curry, who started at running back for the injured senior Tahj Edwards, took the first carry 34 yards and deep into Free State territory. The Lions ran four more times between Curry and quarterback Joey Dooley, with the latter finishing the drive with a 6-yard touchdown run.

Curry finished with 99 yards on 15 carries, while Dooley ran for 114 yards on 16 carries. Add in freshman running back Acein Goodman’s 18 yards and the Lions put up over 230 yards on the ground.

Thoren was happy with how the offense attacked with Edwards out, and Curry’s tough runs helped that.

“It was an opportunity (tonight), and I tried to do everything I could to take advantage of that,” Curry said. “Our team did an amazing job. I’m so happy about everything.

“In practice, you could tell we wanted this more. Everyone was locked in. Our O-line did its job — this was the best I’ve ever seen them play, and I’m extremely proud of those guys. I love those boys.”

Free State started with three quick runs, the latter two being counter runs with running back junior Maddon Brittingham. On a third-and-short, Brittingham got the carry and crossed the first-down line but fumbled, which Lawrence defensive lineman Devin Foster recovered.

Lawrence turned the turnover into points with a 19-yard touchdown throw from Dooley to senior receiver Jaxon Becker on a corner route. Less than six minutes into the game, Lawrence took a 14-0 lead.

The Firebirds stuck to the ground game, picking up a first down to start their second drive. Free State got six yards on the first three runs, leading to a fourth-and-4. Junior quarterback Finn Moore kept it but was immediately hit at the line of scrimmage, giving the Lions the ball back on the plus side of the field.

It was a rough night running the ball for Free State, a team that has won with its rush attack throughout the season. Free State coach Kevin Stewart said the Lions were hungry and “wanted to win the game.”

“They played harder,” Stewart said. “They played better at the line of scrimmage, they played with better pad level and they were more aggressive. If you would’ve told me we couldn’t run the ball on them going into this game, I would’ve been surprised, so credit to them.”

Moore finished with 118 yards on 26 carries, while Brittingham had 49 yards on 16 attempts.

Dooley had senior receiver Khyree McGee for a first down to the 5-yard line, but a hold brought the Lions back to a second-and-long from the 20. Lawrence couldn’t get the first down, leading to freshman backup kicker Tahchuhsee Brewer his first varsity field goal, which he drilled to give his team the 17-0 lead.

Lawrence senior linebacker Jadin Harrell brought down Moore for a tackle-for-loss on the final play of the first quarter, leading to a third-and-16. The Firebirds picked up eight yards but decided to punt on fourth-and-long.

The Lions punted for the first time on their next drive after falling behind the sticks with a penalty. Dooley nearly had Becker deep in the middle of the field for a bomb, but Becker couldn’t locate it.

Free State started their drive with a 6-yard run from Moore. After a 1-yard loss, Moore powered his way for a first down up the gut of the Lawrence defense. An incomplete pass followed by a 1-yard run from Brittingham and a false start put the Firebirds in a third-and-14. Moore decided to keep it on a pass play but only picked up 6 yards, leading Free State to punt again.

The Lions drove down and scored again with a 31-yard run from Dooley. The Lions utilized a lot of read-option plays on the drive, and after giving the ball to Curry for big gains early in the drive, Dooley kept it and fooled the defense.

Free State’s offense just couldn’t get into a rhythm. On a second-and-10, the Firebirds’ receivers lined up in a trips formation but had to adjust their formation several times due to confusion on who was supposed to be where. The pass was an attempted screen, but Moore’s pass went right through senior receiver Logan Kimball’s hands. After a Josh Galbreath sack, Free State punted again.

The Firebirds got the first defensive stop of the night when Joey Dooley tried to float the ball to a receiver but Free State senior linebacker Ethan Prescott dove for an interception, and a personal foul following the interception gave the Firebirds the ball in Lawrence territory.

The momentum didn’t last long. Moore scrambled out of the pocket, and Galbreath stripped the ball from him, giving the Lions the ball right back. Dooley moved the chains with his legs but time ran out with the ball around midfield.

Free State turned the ball over on downs and Lawrence punted the ball back to the Firebirds after a three-and-out to start the second half.

“We did a lot better in the second half,” Stewart said. “I think in the first half, they were coming off the line of scrimmage… Just pad level, guys playing physical. Those guys were coming downhill.”

Moore and the Firebirds found some rhythm on the ground, including a 22-yard run on a quarterback power from Moore on a fourth-and-short near midfield to put the Firebirds in the red zone for the first time in the game. A screen pass to Brittingham moved the Firebirds inside the 10-yard line, and Moore finished the drive on a 2-yard run.

Free State went for a 2-point conversion, but junior defensive back Caleb Wingerd came downhill and got a big hit before the line of scrimmage, keeping the Firebirds to six points.

“Our defense played superb the whole game,” Thoren said. “(That) play epitomizes it. That tells you everything you need to know about tonight. I’m excited for our boys.”

Senior kicker Ricky Romero kicked an onside kick perfectly for the Firebirds, giving them the ball in Lawrence territory again. Moore then hit Brittingham on a wheel route on third and long to put the Firebirds a first down away from the red zone.

The Firebirds stalled at the 24-yard line, bringing up a fourth-and-6. Wingerd nearly picked the ball off, but he knocked it down for a turnover on downs. Lawrence punted on the following drive, which took the game into the final quarter.

Free State started to throw the ball more on their next drive, and Moore picked up a few first downs with his arm. Senior receiver Jonas Lonard picked one up, and Brittingham picked another up on a fourth-and-16.

Moore hit Prescott on a deep dig route to move the Firebirds into Lawrence territory, but the drive stalled after that. Moore’s fourth-and-10 pass fell incomplete, giving the Lions the ball at their own 36-yard line with a little over six minutes to play.

Lawrence bled a little over a minute before being forced to punt the ball back to Free State. The Firebirds started with the ball at their own 42-yard line. They moved the ball through the air into Lawrence territory, but the drive ended when senior defensive back Turner Juelsgaard intercepted a deep pass to the end zone. An 11-yard run for a first down by Curry sealed the game, as the Lions kneeled out the clock and won.

For Free State, the Firebirds will enter the postseason as the sixth seed in the 6A East with a home game against Olathe East for the first round of the playoffs. The Lions will be on the road as the 14th seed in the East and will have to punch their way up the bracket, beginning against Shawnee Mission Northwest at the Shawnee Mission North stadium.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence receiver Jaxon Becker catches a pass for a touchdown while Free State’s Maddon Brittingham attempts to chase him down during the City Showdown football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Lawrence High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence senior Jaxon Becker flexes after a tackle for loss against the Firebirds in the City Showdown football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Lawrence High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence quarterback Joey Dooley (15) follows junior Ethan Curry as the Lions charge down the field against Free State in the City Showdown football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Lawrence High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State quarterback Finn Moore (center) pitches the ball to running back Maddon Brittingham in the City Showdown football game against Lawrence on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Lawrence High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State running back Maddon Brittingham (left) runs down the field while being chased by Lawrence senior Turner Juelsgaard in the City Showdown football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Lawrence High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

The Lawrence defensive line and the Free State offensive line up for the play ahead in the City Showdown football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Lawrence High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State quarterback Finn Moore throws a screen pass against Lawrence during the City Showdown football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Lawrence High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State’s Jude Dowdle forces an incompletion against Lawrence High’s Truth Pope in the City Showdown football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Lawrence High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State linebacker Ethan Prescott holds the ball up after intercepting a Lawrence pass in the City Showdown football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Lawrence High School in Lawrence.