photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State's Aedri Grooms shouts after scoring a touchdown in a season-opening win over Shawnee Mission East at Free State High School on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in Lawrence.

After a deep playoff run in Free State’s trial year with a flag football team, the Firebirds picked right back up with a 48-0 blowout home win over Shawnee Mission East on Wednesday.

“I was happy for the kids,” Free State coach Adam Barmann said. “They competed. We had a great crowd out here tonight. We had the light show — it was a lot of fun. We’ve been working for this for months now, so this was a good first night.”

Barmann stressed to his team that while this was a good first night for Free State flag football, it was just that: one night. Barmann wants his team focused on playing smarter to avoid penalties, keeping the intensity high out of halftime and executing more.

“We have a lot to build on, but certainly we have to get back to work tomorrow,” Barmann said. “Next week is a big one. We have five games (between varsity and junior varsity). It’s a pretty hefty week, so we have to take it one at a time and keep getting better.”

The game was dominant on both ends for the Firebirds, who had more touchdowns than drives the Lancers had in Free State territory. The Firebirds’ pass rush with junior Kenzie Daneke and freshman Nya-Nikohle Fowler both collecting multiple sacks, which kept the Shawnee Mission East offense out of rhythm.

“That’s where it all starts,” Barmann said. “We’ve got some pretty dynamic kids who can rush the pass. We’ve got to clean it up a little bit, obviously. But I like them erring on the side of more physical as opposed to the other way.”

The Lancers got the ball first, but the Firebirds quickly forced them to punt on the opening drive. Free State didn’t take long to get its first touchdown, though, as sophomore quarterback Quinlynn Vail found senior receiver Sarai Preston for a 25-yard touchdown pass. Vail scrambled for the point-after attempt to give the Firebirds a 7-0 lead.

Free State forced a second punt and scored with 15 seconds left in the opening quarter. Daneke got the Firebirds in good field position on a punt return, and Vail found sophomore Layla Hafoka for a short touchdown.

The Lancers punted on the first drive of the second quarter, and Vail found a wide-open Aedri Grooms deep behind the Lancers secondary for another touchdown, giving the Firebirds a 21-0 lead. Following another punt from Shawnee Mission East, the Firebirds scored again as Vail found Fowler on a shovel pass touchdown.

Free State forced its first turnover of the season and got a defensive touchdown as sophomore Ella Stroh weaved through traffic after an interception to get into the end zone, and Free State entered halftime with a 34-0 lead.

The second half wasn’t as explosive as the first, in large part to how the Free State offense operated in the third quarter. A few mistakes and flags halted the momentum, forcing the Firebirds to punt on their first two drives of the half.

Vail helped spark the offense with a quarterback run that got the Firebirds in the red zone, and she found Hafoka for the touchdown and subsequent PAT to give the Firebirds a 41-0 lead.

It was a clean night for Vail, who operated the offense effectively and both hit big plays and got the ball to the playmakers when needed. Barmann said the team puts a lot on her, and that she has a high football IQ.

“She’s just a heck of a football player,” Barmann said. “We’re lucky to have her. I wouldn’t trade her for the world.”

It was the final score of the night for Free State’s offense, but not for the Firebirds. On Shawnee Mission East’s penultimate drive, the Lancers punted to Daneke, who ran, spun and juked her way into the end zone for the seventh and final touchdown of the game.

The Firebirds celebrated the win, as it was the first to go officially on the record books with the sport being KSHSAA sanctioned. Having a supportive crowd and strong night for the team made it a special occasion for Free State.

“We care immensely, our kids care immensely, and we’re trying to be good stewards,” Barmann said. “We understand that this is the first program, and we don’t take that lightly. We want to do absolutely everything that we can to make our student body, our parents (and) crowds proud of the product we put on the field.”

The Firebirds will be back home to host Shawnee Mission West on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State sophomore Quinlynn Vail watches her pass in a season-opening win over Shawnee Mission East at Free State High School on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State senior Aedri Grooms, right, celebrates with senior Mallary Hice after scoring a touchdown in a season-opening win over Shawnee Mission East at Free State High School on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State Firebirds Quinlynn Vail, left, and Layla Hafoka celebrate after a touchdown in a season-opening win over Shawnee Mission East at Free State High School on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State sophomore Layla Hafoka runs through a tackle in a season-opening win over Shawnee Mission East at Free State High School on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State Firebirds surround senior Sarai Preston after a touchdown in a season-opening win over Shawnee Mission East at Free State High School on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State sophomore Quinlynn Vail throws a pass in a season-opening win over Shawnee Mission East at Free State High School on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State sophomore Layla Hafoka turns upfield in a season-opening win over Shawnee Mission East at Free State High School on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in Lawrence.