photo by: Nathan Friedman/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior wide receiver Nello Allegrucci comes down with a pass for a touchdown during the game against Olathe East High School on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Lawrence.

Free State football (3-1) let a 21-point second-half lead slip, but ultimately hung on for a 35-27 home win over Olathe East on Friday night.

“I thought our guys played really good on both sides of the ball for the most part, and then at the end, we just couldn’t stop the pass,” head coach Kevin Stewart said. “But that can’t diminish what our guys did well, which they did a good job on offense, they stopped the run for most of the game, which is what we were trying to do, and they played really hard.”

Free State began with the ball and needed just three plays to score, as junior running back Maddon Brittingham found a hole in the offensive line and raced away for a 58-yard touchdown.

“Our guys really just blocked it up front really well,” Stewart said, “and then Maddon hit the seam and shows his speed a little bit and took off.”

Brittingham finished the night with 135 rushing yards on 18 carries to lead Free State.

The Hawks picked up a first down on their first drive, but the drive stalled after the Firebird defense forced an incompletion on third down, leading to a punt.

Junior quarterback Finn Moore rushed for 12 yards on the Firebirds’ second play of the next drive, before Brittingham got the next four handoffs, picking up two first downs in the process.

Moore got two first downs of his own, including a six-yard pickup on fourth down, before finding senior wide receiver Nello Allegrucci for a 23-yard passing touchdown.

The Firebirds backed up the Hawks’ offense after a chop block and a sack that forced third-and-28, before Olathe East quarterback Milo Burton scrambled for 11 yards, and then converted on fourth down with senior wide receiver Gavin Otto for 29 yards to extend the drive. Four plays later, Olathe East got on the board after a 5-yard touchdown run by senior running back Jaden Scott.

Moore began the next series with a first down, picking up gains of seven and four yards on the ground. A balanced rushing diet of Moore and Brittingham allowed Free State to pick up five first downs on the drive, including one after an offsides penalty. Moore capped off the 18-play drive with a 5-yard touchdown.

Burton connected with senior wide receiver Benji Burton for a 38-yard gain on Olathe East’s first play of the following drive. Milo Burton picked up another first down with a 10-yard run, before throwing two straight incompletions to end the half, including a pass breakup by senior defensive back Greysen Rawls, as Free State led 21-7 after two quarters.

Rawls came up with another stop on the first series of the second half, intercepting a pass as Olathe East was driving down the field.

“That might be the difference between the game when it’s all said and done,” Stewart said. “They’re driving to score, that could have made it a one-score game, (and) instead, we get the ball back.”

Moore picked up a first down and passed to junior wide receiver Alijuh Beckum for a second first down before finding senior wide receiver Shawn Overstreet for a 56-yard touchdown.

Milo Burton picked up two first downs of 10 and 32 yards on the following drive before Benji Burton scored on a 3-yard end-around.

Facing a third-and-9 after a sack, Moore rolled out and completed a pass to Overstreet to pick up a first down, then after two runs of eight yards from Moore and Brittingham, Overstreet scored his second touchdown on a 36-yard completion.

Overstreet had his best game of the season, catching five passes for 110 yards in addition to the two touchdowns.

“Shawn’s a really good receiver, and sometimes I feel bad because I’d like to get him the ball more,” Stewart said. “It was nice for him to have a big game today, get some catches and show off his ability, because he’s got some speed.”

Olathe East continued to run the ball and picked up a first down before a chop block ultimately led to a punt.

Free State was forced to punt for the first time following an incompletion by Moore. On the Hawks’ second play of the drive, Milo Burton found Benji Burton for an 82-yard touchdown.

The Firebirds were forced to punt again after a pair of negative rushes. Milo Burton picked up 15 yards and an extra 15 with a penalty, then completed a pass to Otto for 27 yards. On the next play, Burton made it a one-score game with a 15-yard touchdown before a failed two-point conversion.

Moore scrambled for 13 yards to put the game on ice, as Free State improved to 3-1 on the season and 3-0 in league play.

The Firebirds will be on the road next week, taking on Olathe South on Friday at the Olathe District Activity Center. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Box score

FS 14 7 14 0 — 35

OE 0 7 7 13 — 27

How they scored

First quarter

11:30 – Maddon Brittingham 58-yard run. Micah Jones PAT good. FS 7, OE 0.

3:01 – Nello Allegrucci 23-yard pass from Finn Moore. Jones PAT good. FS 14, OE 0.

Second quarter

9:40 – Jaden Scott 5-yard run. Caden Duncan PAT good. FS 14, OE 7.

0:49 – Moore 5-yard run. Jones PAT good. FS 21, OE 7.

Third quarter

7:50 – Shawn Overstreet 56-yard pass from Moore. Jones PAT good. FS 28, OE 7.

3:09 – Benji Burton 3-yard run. Duncan PAT good. FS 28, OE 14.

0:16 – Overstreet 36-yard pass from Moore. Jones PAT good. FS 35, OE 14.

Fourth quarter

5:40 – Benji Burton 82-yard pass from Milo Burton. Duncan PAT good. FS 35, OE 21.

0:56 – Milo Burton 15-yard run. Two-point conversion no good. FS 35, OE 27.

photo by: Nathan Friedman/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior cornerback Greysen Rawls celebrates after knocking down a pass during the game against Olathe East High School on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Nathan Friedman/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior cornerback Greysen Rawls forces an incompletion during the game against Olathe East High School on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Nathan Friedman/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior quarterback Finn Moore receives a snap during the game against Olathe East High School on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Nathan Friedman/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior quarterback Finn Moore fights through defenders during the game against Olathe East High School on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Nathan Friedman/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior running back Maddon Brittingham powers past a defender during the game against Olathe East High School on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Lawrence.