Free State dominates Shawnee Mission North to stay unbeaten

photo by: Kevin Anderson

Malik Berry runs on a quarter back keeper in the first half as Free State played Shawnee Mission North Friday in Merriam.

OVERLAND PARK – There was only one mistake Free State High coach Bob Lisher’s Firebirds made in their 62-0 win over Shawnee Mission North on Friday night: a missed extra point that would have increased his team’s scoring margin on the season from 144-0 to 145-0.

For just three plays spanning 1:45 of game clock, the Indians (0-3) were in the game with Free State. On the fourth play of the game, Free State scored on its opening drive, a 45-yard touchdown reception for senior receiver Keenan Garber.

Garber put up 18 of the Firebirds’ 41 first-half points with two receiving and one rushing touchdown. Garber, a Kansas State commit, has eight touchdowns on 12 touches through three games.

“He’s explosive, he’s got good hands and he’s shifty, there’s no doubt about that,” Lisher said. “But you combine the speed and power he has and he can make a lot of things happen.”

Unlike Olathe East in the week before, the Indians didn’t even come close to scoring against Free State’s defense. Shawnee Mission North’s longest drive was for four plays, and FSHS held the opposition to 45 yards of offense on the night.

Lisher praised both his starters and reserves for not letting the lopsided scoreboard dictate their focus.

“It doesn’t matter who’s on the field,” Lisher said. “Playing for Free State High School, your job is to do your job and to take pride in your job. And whatever the score on the board may be, that’s your job now. Our guys take a lot of pride in that.”

Senior Jax Dineen rushed for 121 of his 162 yards in the first half to increase the second-quarter to 34-0. Garber scored on an 18-yard reception 17 seconds later. Dineen tallied another 41 yards in the second half and finished with an average of 11.5 yards per carry.

Dineen also had an active night on defense, with several tackles and an interception on the Indians’ fourth drive.

“(Lisher said) we’re going to pound the rock tonight,” Dineen said. “(Keenan’s) fast, that’s one of the most explosive guys I’ve ever seen. I’ve played with Keenan since I was a baby. We grew up together. We’ve been best friends. The chemistry our whole team has together is going to be dominant.”

The Firebirds forced four turnovers in the first half, finishing with six on the night. The first came thanks to senior Jaxon Malone intercepting the second pass by Shawnee Mission North quarterback Zach Bush. Senior Jalen Nash, junior Devon Buck, and junior Lovette Eppele each tallied a fumble recovery in the first half.

Nash went on to recover a second fumble in the second half. North did not tally a first down in the second half, only getting the chance to run a handful of plays thanks to a running clock starting midway through the third quarter.

Though the score was so lopsided, Lisher saw flaws that he said his team will need to correct against stiffer competition.

“I told the kids (the shutout) is going to end eventually. If they score on us, they score on us; it’s the nature of the game,” Lisher said. “We’re making mistakes and still having success, and we’re going to play some teams where you can’t do that.”

The Firebirds (3-0) will play host to Shawnee Mission West (0-3) at 7 p.m. Friday.

FREE STATE 62, SM NORTH 0

FS | SMN

First downs 10 | 3

Rushes-yards 32-292 | 17-16

Passing yards 107 | 39

Total offense 399 | 45

Fumbles-lost 0-0 | 4-4

Interceptions 0 | 2

Penalties-yards 5-55 | 5-35

Score by quarters

Free State 20 21 14 7 — 62

SM North 0 0 0 0 — 0

Individual statistics

Rushing

FS: Jax Dineen 14-162, Malik Berry 4-28, Keenan Garber 2-23, Tyler Bowden 8-33, Ja’Brandian Douglas 3-39, Jaxson Webb 1-7

SMN: Billy Conaway 3-(minus-5), D’Aeric Quinn 6-18, Tobias Pfiefer 1-(minus-10), Tremaine Jackson 1-4, Zach Bush 3-(minus-2), Noah Liard 2-(minus-5), Dominic Gattorna 1-(minus-6).

Passing

FS: Malik Berry 6-15-107

SMN: Zach Bush 6-15-39

Receiving

FS: Keenan Garber 2-63, Jake Zenger 1-8, LJ Mack 1-17, Jaxson Webb 2-19.

SMN: Billy Conaway 2-12, Noah Liard 2-15, Tobias Pfiefer 1-3, D’Aeric Quinn 1-9.

HOW THEY SCORED

First quarter

10:15 — Keenan Garber 45 pass from Malik Berry. Connor Gellender kick good. (FS 7, SMN 0)

8:20 — Jaxon Malone 23 interception. Gellender kick no good. (FS 13, SMN 0)

1:08 — Jake Zenger 8 pass from Berry. Gellender kick no good. (FS 20, SMN 0)

Second quarter

11:54 — Garber 19 run. Gellender kick good. (FS 27, SMN 0)

2:37 — Jax Dineen 10 run. Gellender kick good. (FS 34, SMN 0)

2:20 — Garber 18 pass from Berry. Gellender kick good. (FS 41, SMN 0)

Third quarter

8:36 — Jaxson Webb 13 pass from Berry. Gellender kick good. (FS 48, SMN 0)

7:37 — Ja’Brandian Douglas 36 run. Gellender kick good. (FS 55, SMN 0)

Fourth quarter

10:43 — Tyler Bowden 15 run. Gellender kick good. (FS 62, SMN 0)

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