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

Free State senior Ryan Weishaar runs down the field during the playoff game hosted in Lawrence against the Olathe West Owls on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024.

Free State football opened its quest for a state championship at home last week with a 23-point win over Olathe West, but the fifth-seeded Firebirds will likely be on the road for the remainder of the playoffs, and that starts on Friday as they head to fourth-seeded Blue Valley Northwest.

Both schools have 6-3 records, and it will be the second matchup in the all-time series between them; the first was in 1999, when Blue Valley Northwest won 30-10.

The Firebirds are coming off a season-high 49 points, scoring on seven of eight completed drives.

“What stood out the most was the offensive line,” head coach Kevin Stewart said. “They did a really nice job executing the scheme and the blocks and getting (to) the right guys and then blocking the right guys.”

Stewart also said he was impressed with the play of quarterback Boston Baker. Baker completed 18 of 25 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown, most of which came in the first half, with Free State electing to control the second-half clock on the ground. Running back Ryan Weishaar was also impressive, picking up 112 yards on 15 carries.

At times throughout the season, the Firebirds’ offense has struggled to show balance, but with Baker, a more-than-capable pocket passer, back from injury, along with a slew of running options such as Weishaar, Parker Moore and Bralin Preston, the offense has started to find its rhythm down the stretch.

“I think we’re at our best when we’re able to run the ball effectively,” Stewart said. “That really opens up more of the passing game, and — I kind of said last week — for us, it’s about keeping positive plays and momentum and moving the ball forward. If we don’t have the run going and we have to start with passing only, it opens the opportunity for negative plays, which is what’s really hurt our offense.”

Blue Valley Northwest is no stranger to deep playoff runs in recent memory, including a state championship in 2021. The past two years haven’t been too kind, however, as the Huskies have been eliminated in the second round of the playoffs in consecutive seasons.

Despite the recent hiccups, Blue Valley Northwest is a balanced team, filled with playmakers and a strong front on both sides of the ball.

“They are very talented,” Stewart said. “Their skill players are fast; they’re faster than we are, there’s no doubt about that … They have some guys on their defensive line who are really good, and their secondary looks pretty fast to me.”

The Huskies’ talent goes far beyond recognition at the state level. Offensive tackle Andrew Babalola, a Michigan commitment, is rated as a five-star prospect by 247Sports, coming in as the No. 11 player nationally and No. 2 at his position. Offensive and defensive lineman Brock Heath, who has committed to Kansas State, is rated as a three-star prospect, while wide receiver Trevor Garlington is gaining interest from Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Missouri and Northern Iowa.

With a strong offensive line, the Huskies can open up the run game with running back LJ Bowens. And with their talented group of receivers, they can also throw the deep ball, something that the Free State defense has not faced on a week-to-week basis.

But Stewart said the group is ready for any challenge the Huskies present.

“It really just comes down to being aggressive and working on playing the ball,” Stewart said. “When the ball is thrown up, we have to be aggressive and get pass breakups or rip the ball out, or at least make it a contested catch, because they’re going to throw some shots, for sure.”

The reality of Friday’s matchup is simple: Somebody’s season will end after 48 minutes of play, and the high level of effort that Free State has displayed all season will need to be at its peak to continue the playoff run.

“We don’t want to be done; we’re starting to click and we’re starting to play good football,” Stewart said. “We want to stay atop and ride that momentum as long as we can.”

Kickoff at Blue Valley Switzer District Athletic Complex is set for 7 p.m.