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

Free State receiver Alijah Beckum (10) is tackled by Lawrence High's Adrick Webb (bottom) and Josh Galbreath during the City Showdown football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Lawrence High School in Lawrence.

If you had told Free State head coach Kevin Stewart that his team would struggle to run the ball against Lawrence in Friday night’s City Showdown at Lawrence High School, he would’ve been surprised.

But that was exactly the case, to his shock, as the Firebirds ran for just under four yards per carry, amounting to 167 yards on 42 attempts in their 24-6 loss to the Lions.

Stewart said the biggest factor that limited Free State’s rushing attack was the play of the Lawrence defense, which limited the Firebirds to 67 rushing yards in the first half.

“They were hungry — they wanted to win a football game,” Stewart said.

Free State’s offensive struggles spanned more than just the rushing category, as the team turned the ball over three times against Lawrence, including on its first possession of the game.

With the Firebirds already trailing 7-0 in the first quarter, running back Maddon Brittingham had the ball stripped away from him on the Firebirds’ third play from scrimmage, leading to a Lions fumble recovery and an eventual 14-0 disadvantage.

The Firebirds turned the ball over two more times, once on another fumble and the other on an interception, but Stewart said the first turnover was the most crucial, as the other two happened with quarterback Finn Moore trying to make plays to help get the team back in the game.

“The first (turnover) hurt us, but, you know, that was just a little unlucky,” Stewart said. “(Caleb Wingerd) put his helmet on the ball and it popped up, but that one hurt us. Other ones, I don’t think they necessarily hurt us.”

The Free State defense had a tough time on its own in the first half, allowing Lawrence to catapult itself to a 24-0 lead by halftime.

The Lions were able to have success with their rushing attack from the onset, as Ethan Curry, in place of the injured Tahj Edwards, ripped off a 34-yard run on the first play of the game to set the tone, and finished with 99 of the team’s 229 rushing yards.

Stewart said he wasn’t surprised by the high level of play from the Lawrence offense.

“I’ve felt like they’ve been a good offense all year,” Stewart said. “They’ve been able to move the ball. I thought Curry ran the ball really hard. He’s a good football player.”

Stewart added that he thought the Firebirds’ defense improved in the second half, but the first-half struggles and giving up field position were the major differences in the game.

Coming into the matchup, Free State was tied atop the Sunflower League standings, but with the loss, it fell just a game short of the league championship and finished the regular season with a 5-3 mark.

The Firebirds enter the playoffs with the No. 6 seed in the 6A East bracket and will host 11th-seeded Olathe East. The two teams have already met once this season, with the Firebirds defeating the Hawks, 35-27, on Sept. 26.

The Firebirds have the talent and makeup to go on a deep run in the postseason, but it’s a matter of where the team can find consistent and positive production.

“We’ve got to figure out who we have left, what we can do offensively, and what kind of guys we can lean on this next week,” Stewart said.