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

Free State senior wide receiver Logan Kimball celebrates junior quarterback Finn Moore after making a touchdown in the second quarter against Olathe South on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, in Olathe.

Olathe — Free State’s Greysen Rawls didn’t know what to think as he saw the ball trickle off an opposing player.

The senior defensive back quickly scooped up the ball and raced away for the Firebirds’ first score of the game, helping forge the path to Free State’s 35-21 victory over Olathe South on Friday night at the Olathe District Activity Center.

“It was a swirl of emotions,” Rawls said. “I actually thought he had it secured, and then I went to tackle, he fumbled it; I just grabbed it, looked up, saw green and just went and scored.”

Rawls’ fumble recovery wasn’t the only big special-teams play Free State made. With three seconds left in the half and a 14-point advantage, the Firebirds blocked a 25-yard field goal attempt and took away any momentum for Olathe South heading into halftime.

Aside from special teams, the Firebirds continued to have success with their run game, rushing for a combined 280 yards, split between quarterback Finn Moore and running back Maddon Brittingham.

The Firebirds established that run game early with gains of 11 and 16 yards by Moore to pick up two early first downs. The drive ultimately stalled out, forcing a punt.

“We were not ready for that,” Stewart said. “We really felt like we could grind on them with our offensive line. They did a great job coming out and stopping us at the beginning.”

The opening series, however, was the only time the Firebirds didn’t produce a successful offensive drive, as the team scored on its next four full drives.

Free State caught a break as its initial punt was muffed by the Olathe South return man, Anthony Harris, and picked up by Rawls for a touchdown.

“Greysen’s just been working hard, and he’s trying really hard, and when you give that great effort, you know good things go your way,” Stewart said.

Olathe South quarterback Gage Lee showed his dual-threat abilities early and often, finding Harris for two separate 16-yard catches on the Falcons’ opening drive. Lee took a quarterback keeper for a 21-yard touchdown to tie the score midway through the first quarter.

Brittingham began the second Free State drive with 19 and 12-yard carries, before Moore kept the next two plays and picked up the third first down of the drive on a 15-yard carry.

Facing third-and-1, Moore dropped back and threw over the top to tight end Liam Collins for a 20-yard go-ahead touchdown.

The Falcons got the ground game going with running back JuJu Wyatt to begin the next drive, carrying the ball on five of the first seven plays. After Wyatt gained four yards and a first down, two penalties by Olathe South benefited Free State, as Rawls came up with a pass breakup on fourth down to force a turnover on downs.

The Firebirds have struggled this season to get off the field on third and fourth down, but forced three scoreless possessions on Friday.

“It was really important,” Rawls said. “I feel like we’re slowly improving on that (and) it showed tonight.”

After both teams committed a penalty to begin the Free State drive, Moore picked up 27 yards and a first down on the ground on the second play. A false start moved the Firebirds back, who found themselves facing a fourth-and-5 situation, before Moore rushed for six yards to keep the drive alive.

Another false start set up first-and-goal at the 10-yard line before Moore ultimately found a hole on the right side for a 3-yard touchdown two plays later.

Lee gave the Falcons prime field position with a 35-yard rushing play, and connected with wide receiver Trea Hayes for a 10-yard gain on fourth-and-2 with six seconds remaining in the half. After a quick incompletion, the Firebirds blocked the last-second field goal attempt to take a 21-7 lead into halftime.

Olathe South started the second half with the ball and picked up a first down before defensive lineman Kio Ford came up with a tackle for loss, and the Free State defense forced an incompletion on third down to force a punt.

Stewart liked what he saw out of the defense, but knows there’s still plenty of room for improvement.

“(We were) much, much better, we still got to get better though,” Stewart said. “Every week’s getting better, and so if we can get better next week, I’ll take it.”

The Firebirds reestablished the run game, picking up a first down on a six-yard carry by Moore, before Moore connected with wide receiver Nello Allegrucci for a 50-yard gain. Moore once again kept the drive going with a third-down completion, finding Jonas Lonard for a 14-yard pickup, before rushing for eight yards and finding the end zone with a 1-yard score.

On the following drive, the Falcons relied on running back Justus Sprague, who carried the ball eight times on the drive. Lee threw to Hayes for 23 yards to set up first-and-goal, where Sprague punched it in from two yards out.

Brittingham continued to be a force on the ground, beginning the drive with two carries for eight yards and another 4-yard rush. Brittingham then picked up two first downs before Moore extended the drive with two of his own, then scored his third rushing touchdown of the night with a 3-yard carry.

With less than three minutes in the game, Olathe South was forced to throw, and it executed effectively, as Harris had two catches for 15 yards each before Lee passed to Hayes for a 34-yard score with less than a minute left. Free State recovered the ensuing onside kick and put the game on ice.

Stewart said it was “good timing” for the team to put together a complete game from start to finish.

“We needed it because Olathe South is a good football team,” he said. “For us to put that game together, all phases, that was important to get a win tonight.”

With the win, the Firebirds improve to 4-1 overall and remain undefeated in league play with three games remaining and now have a short turnaround, taking on Shawnee Mission South on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Shawnee Mission District Stadium.

Box score

FS 14 7 7 7 — 35

OS 7 0 0 14 — 21

How they scored

First quarter

9:49 – Greysen Rawls 25-yard fumble return. Micah Jones PAT good. FS 7, OS 0.

5:46 – Gage Lee 21-yard run. Seth Pfeuffer PAT good. FS 7, OS 7.

3:11 – Liam Collins 20-yard pass from Finn Moore. Jones PAT good. FS 14, OS 7.

Second quarter

1:08 – Moore 3-yard run. Jones PAT good. FS 21, OS 7.

Third quarter

3:33 – Moore 1-yard run. Jones PAT good. FS 28, OS 7.

Fourth quarter

11:27 – Justus Sprague 2-yard run. Pfeuffer PAT no good. FS 28, OS 13.

2:46 – Moore 3-yard run. Jones PAT good. FS 35, OS 13.

0:53 – Trea Hayes 34-yard pass from Lee. Two-point conversion good. FS 35, OS 21.

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

Free State senior wide receiver Nello Allegrucci celebrates after catching the ball during Free State’s game against Olathe South on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, in Olathe.

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

Free State junior quarterback Finn Moore winds up before a successful throw to senior wide receiver Nello Allegrucci during the game against Olathe South on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, in Olathe.

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

Free State junior running back Maddon Brittingham runs the ball in the third quarter against Olathe South on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, in Olathe.

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

Junior quarterback Finn Moore is celebrated by his Free State teammates after scoring in the second quarter against Olathe South on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, in Olathe.

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

Free State junior quarterback Finn Moore runs the ball to the end zone for a touchdown against Olathe South on Friday, October 3.

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

Head coach Kevin Stewart gives the Free State players direction during a timeout against Olathe South on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, in Olathe.

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

Free State junior quarterback Finn Moore runs the ball for a first down against Olathe South on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, in Olathe.

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

Free State junior defensive back Finn Moore tackles an Olathe South player to stop the play on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, in Olathe.

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

Junior quarterback Finn Moore runs the ball in the first quarter of Free State’s game against Olathe South on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, in Olathe.