photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Alijah Beckum runs for a first down against Dodge City during the first round of the playoffs on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Free State High School.

The Free State defense struggled throughout the regular season, including during a performance last week in which Lawrence scored 41 points against the Firebirds.

On Friday, the defense allowed the team to open its run in the 6A West bracket by allowing its lowest point total all season, resulting in a 27-7 home victory over No. 9-seeded Dodge City.

“We just played with a lot of effort,” linebacker Mark Ke said. “We had a great game plan going into the week… We just honed down, played base football, get lined up, and just play.”

The Red Demons offense ran a multitude of formations and different looks, but none that the Firebirds hadn’t seen before.

Being in the Sunflower League, opposing offenses run different formations from spread offenses to the wishbone and even Wing-T looks, so any look Dodge City showed wasn’t unfamiliar territory.

“The Sunflower League’s a tough league, and I thought it prepared our defense pretty well for that game,” head coach Kevin Stewart said. “We weren’t really doing anything special; just trying to play some base defense, and the guys played hard and made some big plays.”

On the offensive side of the ball, the Firebirds picked up 339 yards with multiple drives starting in good field position.

The rushing attack, led by senior Maddon Brittingham and junior Michael Harrison, collected 250 yards with both running backs recording 65-plus yards.

“There were some times it was really good, and there were some times where Dodge City defended it pretty well,” Stewart said. “The backs ran really hard tonight; both Maddon and Michael gave really good efforts, and that was the highlight to me.”

Free State received the ball first and began its first drive near midfield after a 45-yard return by Harrison.

The Firebirds picked up a couple of first downs after an encroachment penalty and a 16-yard run by Alijah Beckum before a pair of penalties forced the hosts into a third-and-19, leading to a turnover on downs.

Dodge City’s first drive lasted just three plays before a punt that gave Free State possession at its 31-yard line. A pair of 20-plus runs by Brittingham and Harrison gave the offense momentum before a 16-yard rushing touchdown by Beckum.

“It was just getting back to it and just believing in everybody on the team,” Beckum said of responding on the second drive. “Just coming back as a team, and you know, doing what we needed to do to get a win.”

On just the third play of the Red Demons’ second drive, Ke picked off Isai Reyes to give the ball right back to the Firebirds near the red zone.

Ke said he envisioned the interception throughout the week, so forcing a turnover on Friday wasn’t a big surprise to the junior at all.

“I practiced it all week,” he said, “I took like a pick of the ball, and I took it and I was like, ‘OK, let’s go.'”

Four plays later, Beckum scored for a second time, this time from the wildcat formation as he was pushed into the end zone with the help of freshman right guard Milo Wadud.

“It felt good,” Beckum said. “I rely on the big guys behind me to get in the end zone.”

A 41-yard return by Dodge City gave the visitors their best field position of the first half. Working primarily out of the wishbone formation, the Red Demons moved the ball 31 yards before coming up empty with a missed 30-yard field goal.

In dealing with the unusual amount of formations and looks, Brittingham was a big key for the defense from a safety position. The Air Force commit was the on-field play caller as Stewart said he “did a really nice job calling those things and recognizing those and communicating that with our players.”

“I will say, hands down, that Maddon is one of the best players in the state,” Stewart said. “He’s just an unbelievable football player. Defensively, this year has been where I’ve been most impressed with him.”

Harrison Leiszler rushed for 25 yards, and Harrison picked up another 16 before a 5-yard loss and a third-down incompletion forced a punt by the Firebirds. Another long drive by the Red Demons led to a stop as Free State forced a punt following a third-down sack by Orris Kline and Brandon Lutz.

Beckum continued to have success on offense, picking up 33 yards after a pass from Packson McDaniel before Brittingham extended the Firebird lead to 20 with a 21-yard touchdown late in the half.

“That’s what we talked about earlier in the week,” Stewart said, “Just trying to get other guys involved and either stretch the field vertically or horizontally. We were able to get some horizontal movement today, and you know, maybe in the future we (can) get a little vertical movement.”

Dodge City got the ball out of halftime and drove 71 yards for its first score. A 48-yard reception by Julian Burillo got the Red Demons all the way down to the 15-yard line before a 4-yard scoring run by Oakley Rich.

The Firebirds moved the ball early on their first drive of the second half and picked up a first down on fourth-and-1 after McDaniel’s 2-yard run before the penalties began to pile on. A chop block and an illegal block in the back put Free State 15 yards away from a first down, ultimately leading to a punt.

The Firebirds got the ball right back after a botched snap was recovered by Kline at the 10-yard line.

Free State’s offense wasn’t able to put up points as Micah Jones missed a 25-yard field goal following a goal-line stand by Dodge City.

The Firebird defense once again forced a punt thanks to a tackle five yards behind the line of scrimmage by Harrison and Donnie Krehbiel before senior defensive end Garrison Oatis came up with a sack on third down.

“That was a big play by Oatis because the game was still close enough, and we needed to make a play,” Stewart said. “I told Oatis, ‘Hey, you’re going to have a really good chance at getting a sack here,’ and he did. He came flying off the edge. He locked in (and) he knew we had a play there.”

The offense took over in Dodge City territory as Harrison stutter-stepped his way to a 15-yard run before finding the end zone with 4:52 remaining to put the game on ice.

Dodge City had to punt once more after an incompletion on third-and-6, but got the ball back after the Free State offense went three-and-out. The Red Demons ran out the rest of the clock, securing the Firebirds’ victory.

“I told the guys that this first round is really about separating the winners from the losers,” Stewart said. “You either survive the first round, and you win, or you go home. And you know, half the teams in the state are done tonight, and so we’re happy that we’re not on that end.”

Free State will be on the road next Friday, visiting top-seeded Derby (9-0). The Panthers defeated Wichita North in blowout fashion on Friday, 64-0.

“I feel like our league has been tough all year,” Stewart said. “We’ve played teams that are on Derby’s level, and so hopefully that helps us. I mean, they’re going to be really good. There’s no doubt, but I’m hoping the competition has prepared us.”

HOW THEY SCORED

First quarter

5:06 – Alijah Beckum 16-yard run. Micah Jones PAT good. FS 7, DC 0.

2:48 – Beckum 5-yard run. Jones PAT no good. FS 13, DC 0.

Second quarter

1:19 – Maddon Brittingham 12-yard run. Jones PAT good. FS 20, DC 0.

Third quarter

7:25 – Oakley Rich 4-yard run. Manuel Adame PAT good. FS 20, DC 7.

Fourth quarter

4:52 – Michael Harrison 7-yard run. Jones PAT good. FS 27, DC 7.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Maddon Brittingham fights off defenders for a touchdown against Dodge City during the first round of the playoffs on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Free State High School.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Alijah Beckum crosses the goal line for a touchdown against Dodge City during the first round of the playoffs on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Free State High School.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

A flock of Firebirds take down Dodge City junior Isai Reyes during the first round of the playoffs on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Free State High School.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Garrison Oatis celebrates a tackle for a loss against Dodge City during the first round of the playoffs on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Free State High School.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Free State head coach Kevin Stewart yells out instructions during the game against Dodge City during the first round of the playoffs on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Free State High School.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Mark Ke makes an interception against Dodge City during the first round of the playoffs on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Free State High School.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Devin Ward helps senior Garrison Oatis with his jersey during the game against Dodge City during the first round of the playoffs on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Free State High School.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Alijah Beckum celebrates scoring a touchdown against Dodge City during the first round of the playoffs on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Free State High School.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Alijah Beckum celebrates scoring a touchdown against Dodge City during the first round of the playoffs on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Free State High School.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Mark Ke celebrates making an interception against Dodge City during the first round of the playoffs on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Free State High School.