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

Free State linemen participate in drills before their scrimmages in Leavenworth on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

Leavenworth – Free State football had an early chance to show off its skills in the preseason Friday night as part of the Leavenworth Football Jamboree.

The jamboree consisted of Free State, host Leavenworth, Spring Hill and Tonganoxie. The four schools rotated opponents, with Free State competing in two quarters each against Spring Hill and Tonganoxie.

“We got a lot of work to do, a lot of penalties and a lot of little mistakes,” head coach Kevin Stewart said after the jamboree. “It was probably a good thing we did this tonight so we can get some practice and see how we look, because we have a lot of improvements to make.”

On a larger note, the jamboree served as the first look at in-game experience for senior quarterback Boston Baker, who has dealt with an injury bug and has had season-ending knee surgery the past two seasons.

“This summer we haven’t been live at all really, so he got to go a little bit live and I thought he made some good decisions,” Stewart said.

Baker, who is a traditional pocket passer, takes over for former All-Area quarterback Wesley Edison. Edison’s style of play differs, as he provided a unique scrambling dimension to his game.

Despite these different styles, Baker showed he has the ability to use his legs too, as late in the evening he broke off to the left side against Spring Hill for a 20-yard rush, which is something Stewart had wanted to see more out of his senior leader.

“I was excited to see him scramble a little bit and run,” Stewart said. “Mainly, I’d like to see him run a little bit and see how that looked, he did a good job there.”

On the defensive side, Free State showcased its strength early and often, breaking through gaps in the run game, and showing tight coverage in the pass game, not allowing its opposition into the end zone all evening.

“I thought the defense looked pretty good,” Stewart said. “I think we got some things to work on, and I think we got a solid defense, they look like a solid group to me.”

Stewart said he was most impressed by senior linebacker Crow Bengoa, who made a living of getting into the backfield, including a tackle for loss in the first scrimmage against Tonganoxie.

Free State will open up its 2024 season next Friday night, hosting Shawnee Mission East at 7 p.m.

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

Free State football’s defense works together to bring down a Tonganoxie High School ball carrier in Leavenworth on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

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

Free State running back Nez Lattimore-Douglas cuts during the team’s scrimmage in Leavenworth on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

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

Free State sophomore Xander Swoyer shakes hands with Spring Hill football players after a scrimmage in Leavenworth on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

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

Free State quarterback Boston Baker passes during a scrimmage in Leavenworth on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

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

Free State quarterback Boston Baker makes pre-snap adjustments during a scrimmage in Leavenworth on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

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

Free State senior defensive back Noah Simpson tracks a Spring Hill running back in Leavenworth on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

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

Free State junior Ethan Prescott tackles a Spring Hill ball carrier during their scrimmage in Leavenworth on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

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

Free State junior Landon Leipold runs after catching a pass during the football jamboree hosted at Leavenworth High School on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

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

Free State senior Ryan Weishaar takes a handoff during warmups for the football jamboree in Leavenworth on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

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

Lawrence Free State football teams compete in a football jamboree on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, hosted at Pioneer Stadium in Leavenworth.

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

The Lawrence Free State High School football team huddles after competing in a football jamboree hosted in Leavenworth on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

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

Free State head coach Kevin Stewart addresses his team after the football jamboree in Leavenworth on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

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

Free State’s Austin Mai chases a Tonganoxie ball carrier during a scrimmage Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, in Leavenworth.

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

The Free State defensive line prepares for the play against Tonganoxie Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, in Leavenworth.

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

Head coach Kevin Stewart high-fives senior Crow Bengoa as he comes off the field Friday, Aug 30, 2024, in Leavenworth.

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

Free State quarterback Boston Baker looks for open receivers during the second scrimmage against Tonganoxie Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, in Leavenworth.

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

The Free State offense prepares for the season ahead at a scrimmage in Leavenworth on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

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

The Free State offensive line lines up before the snap during its scrimmage Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, in Leavenworth.

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

Free State’s CJ Christwell lines up for a play in Leavenworth on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

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

Free State receiver Bralin Preston battles for position in a scrimmage against Tonganoxie in Leavenworth on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

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

Free state linebacker Crow Bengoa high-fives teammates coming off the field on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024 in Leavenworth.

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

Free State senior Austin Mai takes a knee between scrimmages on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, in Leavenworth.