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

Free State senior Maddon Brittingham breaks loose for a touchdown during the Firebirds' game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State receiver Packson McDaniel brings in a pass during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State senior Finn Moore scrambles out of the pocket during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State senior Finn Moore tackles the ball carrier during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State quarterback Finn Moore drops back to pass during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior Michael Harrison attempts to break free during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State running back Maddon Brittingham bounces towards the sideline during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State senior Maddon Brittingham looks for space during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior Michael Harrison catches a pass during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State receiver Packson McDaniel checks his position during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior Donnie Krehbiel takes down the quarterback during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State sophomore Tim Toulouse keeps his eyes on the quarterback during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State quarterback Rohan Patel looks to pass during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior Michael Harrison returns a kickoff during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior Devin Ward lines up on defense during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior Donnie Krehbiel sacks the quarterback during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State senior Finn Moore lays a hard hit on the ball carrier during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State head coach Kevin Stewart signals to a referee during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

The Free State defense swarms the ball carrier during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State senior Finn Moore breaks free for a touchdown during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State senior Garrison Oatis sacks the quarterback during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior James Kahungura brings down the running back during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior Brandon Lutz brings down the ball carrier during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State senior Alijah Beckum catches a pass during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior Michael Harrison receives a kickoff during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior Devin Ward wraps up a ball carrier during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior Brandon Lutz makes a tackle during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior Brandon Lutz attempts to fall on a punt during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State quarterback Finn Moore (left) follows Maddon Brittingham down the field during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State senior Alijah Beckum breaks a tackle during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State head coach Kevin Stewart emerges from the smoke prior to the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior Orris Kline screams in celebration after a stop during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State senior Finn Moore celebrates a touchdown during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State senior Finn Moore reaches the end zone for a touchdown during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State sophomore Packson McDaniel goes up for a pass during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State senior Garrison Oatis celebrates a stop during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior Jionte Walton looks to make a move towards the endzone during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State sophomore Rohan Patel looks to pass during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State sophomore Packson McDaniel breaks a tackle during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior Devin Ward drops into coverage during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

The Free State defensive line waits for the snap during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State senior Finn Moore escapes the pocket during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior Michael Harrison returns a kickoff during the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

Free State special teams huddle prior to the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

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

The Free State football team storms out of the locker room prior to the Firebirds’ game against Mill Valley on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.