Free State senior defensive end Brian Lane celebrates a sack late in the game against Olathe North. Free State fell 21-7 for its first loss Friday, Sept, 18, 2021. (Chance Parker/Special to the Journal-World)

On the brink of their toughest challenge of the season, the Free State Firebirds are looking at the opportunity to take on three-time defending state champion Derby with nothing but enthusiasm.

The Firebirds (8-2) and Panthers (9-0) will square off at 7 p.m. Friday in Derby, with a trip to the Class 6A state semifinals on the line.

“The guys are excited to play Derby,” FSHS head coach Kevin Stewart said. “The energy is really good. The guys are locked in and ready to go.”

The Panthers have talent on both sides of the football, and al-so have the kind of speed that the Firebirds will have to figure out how to slow down to survive.

Stewart knows his team is going to have to play physical foot-ball in order to contain a high-powered Derby offense that has scored 63 points in each of its first two playoff games.

“Their offensive line is big and physical,” Stewart said. “Their running back is one of the fastest in the state. They are sound defensively and play good fundamental football.”

After searching for a breakout game from his defense for most of the season, Stewart got exactly that last week in a 42-10 playoff win at Washburn Rural. The Firebirds will need to be equally as sharp on defense this week to give themselves a chance of advancing.

“The defense stepped it up last week,” Stewart said. “This week, I am looking for our guys to rise to the challenge. It has to be a full team effort.”

The explosive FSHS offense, led by quarterback Jet Dineen, tailback Dash Cleveland and a deep group of fast and fearless pass catchers, also will have to be on its game to put some pressure on the Panthers’ defense.

Stewart said the magnitude of this week’s game and the opportunity that is in front of them has been felt throughout the week.

“The school is really excited,” Stewart said. “There is a lot of talk, but at the end of the day it is a football game and the guys have to play their hardest.”

If they do that for four quarters and have fun in the process, Stewart believes anything is possible.

“For me, it’s more about the kids,” he said. “Our guys have worked hard and have earned (this opportunity). Every time you play Derby, you feel they are going to be a really good football team. The players have to be prepared to respond and react.”

And Stewart believes they will.

“The number one thing we have been saying to the guys is, ‘You are going to have to play your hardest and we have to rise to the challenge and compete,'” Stewart said. “No one has to do anything special. It is more about character and team-work. It is really about who wants to keep playing on Friday night.

The winner of this game will move on to next week’s state semifinals, where it will face the winner of the sectional matchup between Lawrence High and Manhattan with a trip to the state title game on the line.