photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State's varsity offensive and defensive lines line up for practice at Free State High School on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in Lawrence.

Through spring and summer practices, Free State football coach Kevin Stewart has seen his team’s work ethic and attitude shine.

“This team has a great attitude — they’re eager to play,” Stewart said. “It’s a really good group of seniors. They really care, and everybody who is out here wants to be here.”

Last year, the Firebirds had one of the top defenses in 6A, thanks to a strong senior class leading with its physicality. While Stewart wasn’t sure how this year’s defense would look before official practices started, he’s been surprised by the group.

“Our linebackers look the part, it’s just a matter of game experience and game speed and seeing if they can make the tackles,” Stewart said. “This first week of practice, (the defense has) really held their own against our offense. I don’t think it’s an indictment on our offense, I think it’s a positive for our defense.”

Senior Ethan Prescott is one of those linebackers, and he believes this year’s team can have as strong of a defense as last year. Along with having talent and athleticism at multiple spots along the defense, Prescott said everyone knows what they’re doing.

Senior left tackle Braden Wilmes said the defense has been physical across all 11 positions throughout practice. The team wanted to establish physicality as an identity this season, and the defense has held up its end.

“We were looking for our own identity,” Wilmes said. “We’ve definitely trended toward being a physical team, just go out there and leave nothing behind.”

Junior Finn Moore will start at quarterback for the Firebirds, which will bring a different offensive philosophy from last year. The Firebirds expect to run the ball more, and Moore plans to play a role in that run game.

“He’s been doing a fantastic job,” Stewart said. “He’s athletic, he’s fast, he’s strong, he can throw. He can read (the defense). He can do it all. We’re pretty excited about Finn.”

Along with Moore in the backfield is junior Maddon Brittingham, who Stewart said is the best pure athlete on the team. The switch back to a run-heavy offense from last year’s pass-heavy offense is one that’s appreciated by the offensive line and the quarterback.

“One of my favorite things ever is running right at someone,” Moore said. “I think this team has that same aggression where they want to hit someone, and that makes us a really dangerous offense.”

The run-first offensive philosophy plays into the team’s overall emphasis on physicality. Creating a tough identity built around the team was important for the Firebirds.

Free State will have some early tests this season. The Firebirds start with Gardner Edgerton at home, followed by Manhattan at home the next week. Both will challenge the Firebirds and could prove to be an obstacle when it comes to playoff seeding if Free State were to struggle and lose early in the season.

“It’s a huge benefit in the fact that you’re tested early and guys see the speed of the game that they have to play at to be successful,” Stewart said. “We chose to schedule Manhattan because we wanted to see them. We want to see where they’re at and where our guys are at. I don’t regret it at all, but it is a tough challenge.”

The Firebirds have some early tests, but the team has a strong dynamic. Since the start of the summer, the Firebirds have been a connected group with a team mindset. Wilmes said the team learned a lot from the 2024 season, and playing together as a team is the biggest lesson. The team hopes it’ll bring the Firebirds to a deep postseason run.

“We’ve learned a lot, and every day we’ve come with the mentality to get better and try to achieve our ultimate goal of winning the state championship,” Wilmes said.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Free State sophomore Finn Moore looks downfield for a pass at Shawnee Mission North Thursday, October 10, 2024, in Overland Park.