photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Noah Simpson carries the ball against Manhattan on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Manhattan.

Manhattan – Down 17-0 early in the third quarter, Free State football had to adjust quickly on the road. Offensively, it did, but a consistent Manhattan attack was too strong for the Firebirds’ defense late, as Manhattan took down Free State in Bishop Stadium, 38-28, on Thursday night.

A multitude of special-teams blunders hurt the Firebirds in the third quarter, including a 99-yard kick return for an Indians touchdown. Despite this, head coach Kevin Stewart still gave credit to his squad for continuing to battle back.

“Good thing is the guys battled, at least they didn’t give up,” Stewart said. “So they at least gave some, you know, heart and they have some desire to do better.”

Manhattan had no issues moving the ball on its first drive. Quarterback Carter Aslin found wide receiver Gabe Summerlin for a 6-yard gain before Aslin took matters into his own hands and scrambled for a 10-yard touchdown to give his team a 7-0 lead.

The Firebirds showed some trickery on their first drive, running a jet sweep for wide receiver Maddon Brittingham. The Indians were ready for it, and popped the ball loose, taking over at the Firebird 37-yard line.

Manhattan had no issues moving the ball on its second drive, relying on the legs of Aslin. The Indians moved down to the 5-yard line before the Free State defense stood strong, forcing a field goal as the deficit expanded to 10-0.

In the second quarter, the Firebird defense responded after letting up two quick scores. With the Indians once again driving, the Firebirds brought pressure and forced Aslin to make an errant throw, which was picked off by linebacker Havea Hafoka.

Free State continued to struggle offensively, being forced to punt for a third time, but found some luck, as Manhattan muffed the punt and Free State recovered in opponent territory.

Despite back-to-back turnovers, Free State failed to convert again, taking three plays and being forced to punt.

The Indians began the ensuing drive at their own 7-yard line, but a 48-yard connection from Aslin to Summerlin put the Indians in Firebird territory. After a penalty put the Indians at the 33-yard line, the Firebird defense didn’t give in, forcing an incompletion on fourth down to give the ball back to the offense.

After three-consecutive three-and-outs to begin the second, a bad snap by Free State gave Manhattan great field position at the 17-yard line. It took just three plays for Manhattan to find the endzone on an Aslin quarterback sneak to go up 17-0.

The Firebirds found a groove offensively, as Baker connected with Brittingham for a 71-yard touchdown to pull within 10.

“I think we just tried to start going back to the things we did all summer and the offensive line picked it up a bit,” Stewart said of the offensive spark.

Manhattan didn’t wait to respond; in fact, it didn’t need a play from scrimmage, as wide receiver JJ Dunnigan took a ball at his goal line and returned a 99-yard kick return for a quick score.

The Firebirds moved just as methodically on their ensuing drive, which started in good field possession at midfield. Running back Ryan Weishaar broke off 14- and 12-yard gains before Baker hooked up with Brititngham once again to pull back within 10.

After forcing a Manhattan punt, Free State broke off for another big play, as running back Noah Simpson found a hole on the left side for 25 yards. Baker tried to find Brittingham again on a corner route, but couldn’t convert, and Free State came up empty after a 42-yard field goal hooked right.

The Indians capitalized immediately when Aslin found a gap in the middle of the Firebird defense and raced to the endzone for a 73-yard touchdown to go up 31-14.

Free State continued the theme of quick hitters following another Manhattan penalty. Baker found wide receiver Landon Leipold for a 40-yard touchdown to cut the margin to 31-21.

After forcing a Manhattan punt, Free State was pinned inside its 10-yard line before Brittingham broke free for a 62-yard reception to move Free State well into Manhattan territory.

Three plays later, Baker dropped a back-shoulder pass to Leipold for a 22-yard touchdown, cutting the Manhattan lead to three.

Looking to put the game away in the fourth, the Indians did just that, as running back Jaydin Hudley used his strength to bounce off the Firebird secondary for a 42-yard touchdown to push the lead back to 38-28.

Free State had one last chance to get two quick scores, but an incompletion on fourth-and-5 sealed the deal, as Manhattan extended its winning streak to four over the Firebirds.

Free State will head back on the road next Friday, traveling to Shawnee to take on the Mill Valley Jaguars. As of now, the Jaguars are ranked as the No. 1 team in Class 5A.

“If we have a better week of practice, and we work hard and we get ready to go we got a good chance of winning,” Stewart said. “So, another good chance next week to play a good high-quality football team and see where we’re at.”

Game stats

Free State 28, Manhattan 38

FS | MHS

First downs 15 | 17

Rushes-yards 27-108 | 31-223

Passing yards 262 | 169

Total offense 370 | 392

Fumbles-lost 0-0 | 1-1

Interceptions 0 | 1

Penalty yards 6-64 | 8-80

Score by quarters

Free State 0 0 14 14 – 28

Manhattan 10 0 14 14 – 38

How they scored

First quarter

08:13 — Carter Aslin 10-yard run. Rylan Vikander kick is good. (FS 0 MHS 7)

03:11 — Vikander 22-yard field goal. (FS 0 MHS 10)

Third quarter

05:30 — Aslin 1-yard run. Vikander kick is good. (FS 0 MHS 17)

04:11 — Boston Baker 71-yard pass to Maddon Brittingham. Iskandrani kick is good. (FS 7 MHS 17)

03:55 — JJ Dunnigan 99-yard kick return. Vikander kick is good. (FS 7 MHS 24)

03:03 — Baker 24-yard pass to Brittingham. Iskandrani kick is good. (FS 14 MHS 24)

Fourth quarter

08:04 — Aslin 73-yard run. Vikander kick is good. (FS 14 MHS 31)

07:25 — Baker 40-yard pass to Landon Leipold. Iskandrani kick is good. (FS 21 MHS 31)

03:35 — Baker 22-yard pass to Leipold. Iskandrani kick is good. (FS 28 MHS 31)

01:58 — Jaydin Hudley 42-yard run. Vikander kick is good. (FS 28 MHS 38)

Individual statistics

Rushing:

FS: Noah Simpson 10-56; Ryan Weishaar 10-53; Finn Moore 1-5; Maddon Brittingham 2-1

MHS: Carter Aslin 23-194; Jaydin Hudley 7-23; JJ Dunnigan 1-6

Passing:

FS: Boston Baker 11-26-262

MHS: Carter Aslin 15-22-169

Receiving:

FS: Maddon Brittingham 5-180; Landon Leipold 2-62; Noah Simpson 4-20

MHS: Gabe Summerlin 4-80; Jaydin Hudley 7-78; JJ Dunnigan 3-34; Landon Dobson 2-19

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State sophomore wide receiver Maddon Brittingham breaks away for a touchdown touchdown against Manhattan on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Manhattan.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior quarterback Boston Baker throws the ball against Manhattan on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Manhattan.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Senior Noah Rupp tackles Manhattan’s Jaydin Hudley before reaching the end zone on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Manhattan.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior quarterback Boston Baker throws against Manhattan on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Manhattan.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior quarterback Boston Baker winds up before throwing against Manhattan on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Manhattan.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior quarterback Boston Baker hands the ball to senior running back Noah Simpson against Manhattan on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Manhattan.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State High School students cheer for their football team after intercepting the ball against Manhattan High School on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Manhattan.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State High School students cheer for their football team after intercepting the ball against Manhattan High School on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Manhattan.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

The Free State offensive line gets ready to face off against Manhattan on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Manhattan.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State coach Kevin Stewart speaks to his team during the game against Manhattan on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Manhattan.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Noah Rupp takes down Manhattan’s JJ Dunnigan on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Manhattan.