photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State junior Kenzie Daneke pulls Lawrence junior Lucy Juelsgaard's flag in the first official flag football City Showdown at Free State on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Lawrence.

The first flag football City Showdown went about as expected, with large, raucous crowds, momentum swings, highlight plays and a season-defining win for one team.

That team was Free State, which made local history on Wednesday by holding off a late push from Lawrence to win 22-13 at home.

“It’s amazing,” sophomore quarterback Quinlynn Vail said. “(The seniors can say) they never lost to LHS… we knew it was going to be a big game and that everybody plays a little different for City Showdown, but we knew what we had to do.”

Free State gained the momentum early, forcing a three-and-out in Lawrence’s opening drive. Three plays later, Vail found senior Mallary Hice deep along the visitor sideline for an open touchdown. Vail and Hice said they saw the potential for the play based on film study of Lawrence leading up to the game.

“They love to cheat in on the short route, so we knew that outside vertical was going to be open,” Hice said. “If I could get outside of that girl, I knew it was going to be open.”

Free State coach Adam Barmann said the team knew there were going to be ebbs and flows in the game, especially with the stakes of being a City Showdown match. But he was proud of how his team landed the first punch and weathered Lawrence’s later momentum swings.

“It really comes down to who can make a critical play in a critical situation,” Barmann said. “We’re a tough group. I’m so proud of our girls. Our senior group with Sarai Preston and Mallary Hice willed us to a win. I was really proud of them tonight.”

The Firebirds forced a punt on the following drive, but the Lions got the ball back when freshman Jordyn Dooley picked off Vail deep in Lawrence territory. Lawrence started moving the ball as the first quarter ended, but two incompletions turned the ball over.

Lawrence’s defense continued to contain the Firebirds, forcing a three-and-out to get the ball back. But a Hice sack of Lawrence junior quarterback Macyn Ramsay and an incompletion on fourth down forced another turnover on downs for Lawrence.

The Firebirds scored again after Vail hit Hice for a modest gain that turned into a long touchdown run for Hice. Freshman Nya-Nikohle Fowler scored the PAT, giving Free State the 14-0 lead late in the second quarter.

“We were ready to go all gas, no brakes,” Vail said.

Lawrence moved the ball a bit in its final drive before half, but a fourth-down sack by Fowler gave the Firebirds the ball back with a little over a minute to go. Free State drove all the way down, killing the clock along the way, and got to a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line with a second left. But the Lions made the play at the line, stopping Free State from scoring before halftime.

Free State got the ball back out of halftime and made up for the missed opportunity to end the half. Sophomore Layla Hafoka broke through attempted flag pulls to get into the end zone. Free State’s PAT was incomplete, but the Firebirds led 20-0 four minutes into the third quarter.

Lawrence’s offense finally got going in the third quarter with a scoring drive. Ramsay’s pass to junior Lucy Juelsgaard was tipped, but Juelsgaard went up and ripped the ball out of the air to put Lawrence right outside the end zone. Ramsay hit Dooley on the next play to score, and Lawrence cut the deficit to 13 points.

“We were keeping ourselves in check, just doing what we had to do, what we know we can do,” Hice said. “That was important to know. When we got down, we knew how to bring ourselves back up.”

Free State’s offense stalled with a three-and-out, and Lawrence began moving the ball downfield again as the third quarter ended.

The Lions got deep into the red zone, but a few negative plays, one of which was a sack by junior Kenzie Daneke, backed the Lions up. Needing a big play, Ramsay threw to a covered Juelsgaard, who jumped over two defenders to secure the touchdown reception. Lawrence’s PAT was no good, but the Free State lead was down to a touchdown.

Free State punted on its next drive, giving Lawrence 5:33 left to tie the game. Hice broke up a Ramsay throw to set up a fourth down that got more difficult after a Lawrence false start. Senior Shana Teenor sacked Ramsay to turn it over on downs.

“Macyn is a heck of a player, and to keep her in the pocket all night long is a tall task,” Barmann said. “There were a few times she broke our contain, but that’s a credit to her and how good of a player she is.”

The Firebirds were unable to get the ball in the end zone, despite starting at the Lawrence 20-yard line. Dooley broke up Vail’s pass on fourth down to give Lawrence the ball with 31 seconds left at the Lions’ 4-yard line.

Lawrence didn’t get far. The Lions tried to get tricky, having Dooley behind the snapper and bring Ramsay in motion from out wide, but Dooley and Ramsay fumbled the handoff, which bounced into the end zone for a safety.

The Firebirds fielded the punt and took a knee to secure the 22-13 win over Lawrence.

“That is a good football team on the other side with some really talented players,” Barmann said. “We certainly had our hands full. We got a lead, and it felt like we were just trying to hang on. Credit to our defense for making plays, and credit to Lawrence High. They did not go away, and that’s a credit to those kids and the coaching staff.”

Free State (7-1) will take on Shawnee Mission North on Monday at 7:30 p.m. at the Shawnee Mission North Stadium, while Lawrence (5-1) will see Olathe East on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Olathe District Athletic Center.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State sophomore quarterback Quinlynn Vail throws deep for a touchdown in the first official flag football City Showdown at Free State on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State senior Mallary Hice celebrates as she runs into the end zone for a touchdown in the first official flag football City Showdown at Free State on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Lawrence. Hice started hot in the City Showdown, scoring twice in the first half while also making plays on defense.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence freshman Jordyn Dooley intercepts a pass in the first official flag football City Showdown at Free State on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence junior quarterback Macyn Ramsay rolls to her right while Free State freshman Nya-Nikohle Fowler pursues her in the first official flag football City Showdown at Free State on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State coach Adam Barmann talks with his offense during a timeout in the first official flag football City Showdown at Free State on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence junior Zoey Barber celebrates a big catch in the first official flag football City Showdown at Free State on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State senior Sarai Preston holds the pulled flag of Lawrence sophomore Marley Doleman in the first official flag football City Showdown at Free State on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence junior Lucy Juelsgaard celebrates a goal line stop before halftime in the first official flag football City Showdown at Free State on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Lawrence.