Free State football’s four-game losing streak came to a screeching halt on Friday, as the Firebirds rushed for 310 yards of offense to defeat Shawnee Mission South on senior night, 41-14.

“We knew that we were going to have to step up to the plate,” senior running back Maddon Brittingham said. “We’ve been playing really well these past few weeks… just having a little bit more confidence with the run game and getting a win is huge.”

Brittingham and junior running back Michael Harrison took the majority of the carries, combining for 30 rushes and 233 yards. What paved the way for the running game as a whole was the offensive line, which head coach Kevin Stewart said earlier this week had to “play really well.”

“They’ve worked so hard, and they’re trying to get better with their young group,” Brittingham said. “They’ve been doing fantastic stuff, so I’m super proud of them.”

Added Stewart: “We didn’t really throw the ball a whole lot, and we’re still trying to get (sophomore quarterback Packson McDaniel) comfortable back there … but, the bigger thing out of that was (Shawnee Mission South) knew we were going to run the ball, and we were still able to run the ball, and I think that speaks a lot to our offensive line.”

The special teams unit was also a bright spot for Free State, recovering two muffed return opportunities in the first half, as the team turned both recoveries into touchdowns.

“I think our special teams is improving,” Stewart said. “We’ve been really trying to focus on (that) the last two weeks of practice. I think we have seen improvements, and I think the guys are gaining confidence in that.”

Free State (3-4) couldn’t have asked for a better start on special teams, as Shawnee Mission South fumbled the game’s opening kickoff, which was recovered by Daniel Babalola.

“Finally one of those goes our way,” Stewart said. “It seems like all year these teams have been pooch-kicking on us, and every single dang time the ball just hits and backspins and somehow stays in bounds. So, we finally caught a break there and (I) kind of felt bad for their kid because we know what that’s like.”

The offense needed just two plays to get on the board, as a 17-yard run by Alijah Beckum allowed Brittingham to push his way into the end zone from four yards out.

After a delay-of-game penalty and a tackle-for-loss by Jude Dowdle, the Firebirds forced the Raiders to punt before the offense gained just four yards on its second drive and had to punt back to Shawnee Mission South.

A 25-yard pass on third down gave the Raiders some life before the ball fell on the turf after an unsuccessful handoff, and the recovery was made by Free State’s Orris Kline. The Firebirds once again had to punt, however, gaining just one yard after the turnover.

Shawnee Mission South started its next drive at the 3-yard line and moved 15 yards down the field before a short punt gave Free State the ball well into opposing territory. The Firebirds picked up 18 yards, highlighted by a 12-yard run by Brittingham, before Micah Jones drilled a 35-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter.

Free State once again forced a punt after penalties derailed the Shawnee Mission South drive. Michael Harrison ripped off a run of 14 yards before a sack ultimately forced the Firebirds to punt. However, the Firebirds’ special teams unit benefited from another muffed return, as Harrison scored on the following play after a 25-yard run.

“That was a little bit of luck,” Stewart said. “(It) wasn’t the best kick and the (returner) was trying to run from the ball, and obviously it just hit him right in the leg, and we were fortunate enough that it hit him.”

The Firebird defense continued to have success, forcing a turnover on downs before a 48-yard drive was capped off by Harrison’s second scoring run of the game, this time from 20 yards, to push the lead to 24-0.

Part of what has created Harrison’s success over the last two weeks is his ability to stop in his tracks and make defenders miss, which he attributes to his days of playing tag during recess in elementary school.

“It’s always been like that,” he said. “It’s just muscle memory.”

Shawnee Mission South responded with its best series of the first half, which began with a 33-yard kick return to get to midfield. Passes of 22 and 21 yards by quarterback Rylan Kuhasz to receiver William Bagby set up the Raiders’ first touchdown of the game with 35 seconds left in the first half as Kuhasz connected with receiver Daniel Terreau. Free State ran just one more play before taking a 24-7 lead into the locker room.

After starting with the ball at its 35-yard line, Free State came up empty-handed out of halftime when a seven-play, 51-yard drive was spoiled by a missed 31-yard field goal.

The defense held strong, allowing just one yard as the offense took over at midfield. McDaniel ripped off a 21-yard scramble on the second play of the drive before Brittingham found open space for an 8-yard touchdown.

After the defense forced another punt by the Raiders, the offense continued to dominate on the ground while completing its only pass of the game on a 30-yard reception by Beckum, who found the end zone three plays later with a 14-yard run to put the team ahead 38-7.

A 19-yard return following an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty gave Shawnee Mission South possession near midfield, leading to a 56-yard drive that ended in a 1-yard rushing touchdown. Free State’s defense had multiple opportunities to get off the field during the drive, but four costly penalties allowed the Raiders to find paydirt.

Free State wasted nearly the final seven minutes of the clock, running 11 plays for 45 yards before settling for a 36-yard field goal off the right boot of senior AJ Kimzey.

Stewart said that part of the decision to send Kimzey out for the final kick didn’t just have to do with senior-night festivities, but he also wanted to see if he had the ability to make a field goal from distance.

“AJ is a really good athlete, people don’t know that, but he’s a golfer and he’s a good golfer,” Stewart said. “He’s got a lot of athleticism in his body, he’s got a lot of flexibility and dynamic ability that people don’t realize … and you know, I think he can help us down the stretch in some games.”

The Firebird defense had one more takeaway as junior cornerback Devin Ward intercepted a pass on second-and-1, allowing McDaniel to kneel out the remaining 13 seconds.

“Devin worked really hard this offseason,” Stewart said. “I’m proud of Devin for his efforts, and he really tried to get better at football, and so, you know, it’s paid off. He’s been consistent.”

Free State will hit the road next Friday for the regular-season finale and annual City Showdown game against Lawrence, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.

“They’re a pretty good team,” Harrison said of the 5-2 Lions. “We’ve just got to stay locked in and stay disciplined in our assignments.”

How they scored

First quarter

11:42 – Maddon Brittingham 4-yard run. Micah Jones PAT good. FS 7, SMS 0.

Second quarter

11:55 – Jones 35-yard field goal. FS 10, SMS 0.

5:01 – Michael Harrison 25-yard run. Jones PAT good. FS 17, SMS 0.

3:07 – Harrison 20-yard run. Jones PAT good. FS 24, SMS 0.

0:35 – Daniel Terreau 2-yard pass from Rylan Kuhasz. Connor Griffin PAT good. FS 24, SMS 7.

Third quarter

6:50 – Brittingham 8-yard run. Jones PAT good. FS 31, SMS 7.

0:14 – Alijah Beckum 14-yard run. Jones PAT good. FS 38, SMS 7.

Fourth quarter

7:04 – Kesean Jackson 1-yard run. Griffin PAT good. FS 38, SMS 14.

0:51 – AJ Kimzey 36-yard field goal. FS 41, SMS 14.