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

Free State head coach Kevin Stewart relays a play to receiver Alijah Beckum during the City Showdown football game on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Lawrence High School in Lawrence.

Despite a disappointing end to the regular season that saw Free State football suffer a 31-point loss to crosstown rival Lawrence in the City Showdown, head coach Kevin Stewart’s group will begin postseason in a familiar location: at home.

The Firebirds’ (3-5) playoff run begins on Friday at 7 p.m. against No. 9-seeded Dodge City, a member of the Western Athletic Conference.

“I think the main thing is just focusing on Dodge City and the playoffs and trying to get a win at home,” Stewart said. “Playing at home really helps. These guys don’t want to lose at home; they’re competitive, and we’ve got some young guys that are getting some action this week, and you know, they want to show that they can do it too.”

The Firebirds entered last week as the seventh-seeded team in the 6A West bracket with little separation between seeds seven through 11. Despite Junction City moving ahead of Free State with a win, the Firebirds’ average point differential (-0.75) was just enough to give them the No. 8 seed and the opportunity to host.

Being able to host became especially important when it turned out that the team was avoiding 304-mile trip out west and could instead face the Red Demons at home.

“Our coaches were super pumped,” Stewart said. “I don’t think the guys necessarily realized how big of a deal it was until they saw we played Dodge City. I think once they saw we (were playing) Dodge, they understood why we were excited.”

Dodge City (3-5) has had a similar season to Free State, starting the year with a two-game winning streak before dropping its next five. However, the Red Demons are heading into the playoffs with a bit of momentum after a 45-6 win over Wichita South in Week 8.

The records aren’t where the comparisons stop, either. The Firebirds have turned to receiver Packson McDaniel to run the offense after injuries to Finn Moore and Rohan Patel, while the Red Demons’ starting quarterback, Reis Ochs, was also injured this season, leaving receiver Isai Reyes in charge of the offense.

“I think they’re offensively trying to find their identity. I mean, that’s kind of how we are,” Stewart said. “We’re trying to figure out what we can do and what (McDaniel) does the best.”

With Dodge City in particular, that change in identity has made the scout quite complicated for Free State. In the last two games, the Red Demons have used 22 different formations, showing a commitment to multiplicity.

Instead of preparing for every formation the Red Demon offense may show, the Firebirds defense is keeping things simple. Stewart said he and the coaching staff “decided we can’t line up and chase ghosts in 22 formations.”

“I think it was a real challenge until (Wednesday), really maybe (Tuesday),” Stewart said. “We just have to play good football and stop the run and be aware of the passing game. You know, have some discipline, watch play action pass.”

Defensively, the Red Demons are a physical group with plenty of size and strength along the defensive line and linebacker groups.

The Dodge City defense also features senior cornerback Elliott Williams, who led the WAC with three interceptions. In order to counterbalance the strength upfront and a secondary with a lot of upside, Free State will look to lean on speedy receivers Alijah Beckum and Harrison Leiszler to have success on offense and take pressure off McDaniel.

“Those guys are good horizontal guys,” Stewart said of Beckum and Leiszler. “(They have) a lot of speed, so, you know, we need to get some use out of those guys, or some productivity out of those guys.”

Even though it’s been a difficult season for the Firebirds with the amount of injuries, the playoffs will provide a chance for younger players to step up, and the junior class to make an early statement before their senior season.

“I think that’s the bigger message to a lot of our young guys, because they know that we’ve had a tough season,” Stewart said. “Our guys are very aware of that, but for me as a coach and for the guys, it’s like, if you guys want to build something for the future, it starts right now, today. Get better today.”