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

Free State sophomore Packson McDaniel takes over the offense during the Firebirds' game against Shawnee Mission East on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Shawnee Mission District North Stadium in Overland Park.

OVERLAND PARK – Injuries to Free State’s biggest stars, Finn Moore and Maddon Brittingham, led to unlikely heroes on Friday night at Shawnee Mission North District Stadium.

Sophomore Packson McDaniel and junior Michael Harrison made play after play to keep the Firebirds alive, but their efforts were just short as Free State (2-4) fell to Shawnee Mission East in an instant classic, 42-39.

“(I’m) really proud of the guys for stepping up,” head coach Kevin Stewart said. “Those guys did a great job. (McDaniel) gave us a chance to win, and man, that was just a great game by him and all the guys to rally…It’s frustrating because we’ve got a lot of guys getting hurt, but that’s football.”

While Brittingham did return to the game, primarily on defense, Harrison took over at running back, carrying the ball 26 times for 191 yards and two touchdowns.

“He’s been working really hard all offseason, and so that’s a big thing,” Stewart said of Harrison’s effort. “He did a nice job last year on JV, so we knew he had some ability. He’s got some quickness and some change of direction… (I’m) just really happy with him getting a chance and he showed us that he can hit the holes and do some things.”

McDaniel, on the other hand, took over for Moore full-time on the team’s third drive after the senior quarterback went down for a second time in the first quarter. McDaniel was not new to the position, however, as he served as the Firebird’s freshman team quarterback last season.

With Rohan Patel already sidelined with a wrist injury, McDaniel passed for 42 yards while rushing for another 62.

“He practiced some this summer at quarterback but once Rohan got here, he’s pretty much been focused on wide receiver,” Stewart said. “This week he had a couple of days to practice just in case we needed him.”

As a team, the Firebirds rushed for 382 total yards of offense while holding the ball for 22 minutes and eight seconds.

Penalties also haunted the Firebirds, as they committed 15 that cost them 111 yards.

“When you get some holding penalties, you get some negative yards, it’s hard,” Stewart said.

A 40-yard kick return by Harrison to begin the game resulted in runs of 21 and six yards to begin the game for Moore, who was injured on the latter run, putting McDaniel in the game at quarterback.

The sophomore, who typically plays receiver, led the offense down the field with the help of Brittingham, who ripped off runs of nine and five yards before Moore returned to punch the ball in for the first score.

Shawnee Mission East drove 22 yards and moved past midfield with its rushing attack before a bobbled snap was recovered by Free State’s James Kahungura.

Brittingham rushed for three and four yards before Moore ripped off a 45-yard run on third-and-3 for his second touchdown.

The Lancers went to the air on their second drive as the Firebirds forced two incompletions, leading to three-and-out. Brittingham scrambled for 27 yards on the first play of the ensuing drive as both he and Moore went down on the play.

On fourth-and-short, Harrison picked up seven yards before breaking away from the defense for a 36-yard touchdown, giving Free State a 21-0 lead.

As much of a dominant first quarter as it was for Free State, Shawnee Mission East flipped the script in the second quarter, beginning with a 69-yard drive that resulted in an 18-yard passing touchdown on fourth-and-12.

The Firebirds were forced to punt for the first time after a three-and-out, leading to just a three yard drive that was capped off by a 56-yard rushing touchdown by the Lancers.

Stewart said postgame the second quarter troubles on offense were organizational problems with a new quarterback in as the entire offense had to adjust to different cadences and communication.

Free State’s next drive looked to continue after a 4-yard run by McDaniel on third-and-short, but a holding call brought back the play, and an incompletion on third-and-11 forced another punt. Runs of 24 and 17 yards quickly put Shawnee Mission East at the 1-yard line, leading to a game-tying touchdown.

Harrison ripped off his second long return of the game with a 33-yard return, and a completion by Alijah Beckum from McDaniel for 13 yards on fourth-and-12 allowed Free State to get into field-goal position. After a two-yard reception by AJ Kimzey, Micah Jones regained the lead for the Firebirds with a 26-yard field goal to end the half.

“That gave us a little spark going (into) halftime,” Stewart said. “I thought that helped our guys to, you know, believe. It’s nice to go in with the lead.”

Free State forced a quick three-and-out before Shawnee Mission East faked a punt, but a stop just in front of the first down marker gave the Firebirds the ball in opponent territory.

The Firebird offense failed to capitalize, however, as yet another penalty negated a potential first down, and after a 10-yard run by Harrison on second-and-24 and an incompletion on third down, Jones missed a 36-yard field goal attempt.

The Lancers responded in emphatic fashion with a play-action pass on third-and-short, resulting in a 73-yard passing touchdown.

The two teams traded turnovers on downs before Free State got the ball back with 5:59 to go. McDaniel kept the drive alive with a 9-yard pass to Tim Toulouse on fourth down, and a 16-yard run by McDaniel set up Harrison’s second score of the game to take a 31-28 lead.

The lead didn’t last long as Shawnee Mission East went back in front with a 56-yard passing touchdown, and on the first play of the next Free State drive, came up with a pick-six to take an 11-point lead with under two minutes remaining.

The Firebirds drove 49 yards down the field through the air, and McDaniel found Kimzey for a 13-yard touchdown. The Firebirds got the two-point conversion, but the onside kick was recovered by the Lancers, who ended the game with three kneels.

Free State, which fell to 2-4, will host Shawnee Mission South on Friday at 7 p.m.

“The guys just got to buy into each other,” Stewart said. “Losing is no fun, but when you lose, you start to hopefully build some bonds with each other, and you build a little bit of trust and character because you’re going through hard times together. That’s what football and life is about… when things are hard, you’ve got to really dig in and work together and become a team.”

How they scored

First quarter

8:55 – Finn Moore 1-yard run. Micah Jones PAT good. FS 7, SME 0.

5:31 – Moore 45-yard run. Jones PAT good. FS 14, SME 0.

1:29 – Michael Harrison 36-yard run. Jones PAT good. FS 21, SME 0.

Second quarter

9:04 – Thomas Vanice 18-yard pass from Owen Wantland. Gavin Green PAT good. FS 21, SME 7.

5:51 – Rory Capstack 56-yard run. Green PAT good. FS 21, SME 14.

3:31 – Gus Ketteler 1-yard run. Green PAT good. FS 21, SME 21.

0:05 – Jones 26-yard field goal. FS 24, SME 21.

Third quarter

4:25 – Venice 73-yard pass from Thomas Burgess. Green PAT good. SME 28, FS 24.

Fourth quarter

2:49 – Harrison 1-yard run. Jones PAT good. FS 31, SME 28.

1:43 – Lucas Keller 56-yard pass from Burgess. Green PAT good. SME 35, FS 31.

1:36 – Thomas Truckess 18-yard interception return. Green PAT good. SME 42, FS 31.

0:50 – AJ Kimzey 13-yard pass from Packson McDaniel. Brittingham run for two-point conversion. SME 42, FS 39.

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

Free State junior Michael Harrison returns the opening kickoff during the Firebirds’ game against Shawnee Mission East on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Shawnee Mission District North Stadium in Overland Park.

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

Free State senior Finn Moore takes off for a big run during the Firebirds’ game against Shawnee Mission East on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Shawnee Mission District North Stadium in Overland Park.

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

Senior Maddon Brittingham (33) and the Free State defense celebrate a fumble recovery during the Firebirds’ game against Shawnee Mission East on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Shawnee Mission District North Stadium in Overland Park.

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

Free State head coach Kevin Stewart watches as his team takes the field during the Firebirds’ game against Shawnee Mission East on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Shawnee Mission District North Stadium in Overland Park.

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

Free State senior Maddon Brittingham tiptoes down the sideline as he is tripped during the Firebirds’ game against Shawnee Mission East on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Shawnee Mission District North Stadium in Overland Park.

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

Free State sophomore Packson McDaniel (3) follows his blockers during the Firebirds’ game against Shawnee Mission East on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Shawnee Mission District North Stadium in Overland Park.

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

Free State junior Charlie Griffith looks to bring down a ball carrier during the Firebirds’ game against Shawnee Mission East on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Shawnee Mission District North Stadium in Overland Park.

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

Free State junior Michael Harrison breaks a tackle during the Firebirds’ game against Shawnee Mission East on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Shawnee Mission District North Stadium in Overland Park.

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

Free State’s Jaionte Walton, Michael Harrison and Braelan Robinson (left to right) celebrate a touchdown during the Firebirds’ game against Shawnee Mission East on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Shawnee Mission District North Stadium in Overland Park.

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

Free State senior Maddon Brittingham hits the quarterback during the Firebirds’ game against Shawnee Mission East on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Shawnee Mission District North Stadium in Overland Park.

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

Free State senior Maddon Brittingham and head coach Kevin Stewart high-five during the Firebirds’ game against Shawnee Mission East on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Shawnee Mission District North Stadium in Overland Park.

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

Free State senior AJ Kimzey goes up for a pass during the Firebirds’ game against Shawnee Mission East on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Shawnee Mission District North Stadium in Overland Park.