Friday night sights

A two-way starter on the line for 4-1 Lawrence Free State, Michael Lisher and his teammates face their toughest test of the season tonight at home against unbeaten Olathe North, which is physical up front and led by one of the top players in the area in senior running back James Franklin.

1. Now that Free State has its own on-campus stadium, what should opponents expect when they visit?

“When we play on our field, we have much bigger crowds. When we used to play at Haskell (Stadium) … it never really felt like ours. But being here on our own stadium, it feels like we have something to `protect now.”

2. Olathe North has not allowed more than 14 points in any game this year. Why could that be different this week?

“(Pauses) … North is really good defensively. They’re physical, they’re fast, they get to the ball quickly. But we’ve just got to do things fundamentally right — stay on blocks as long as we can, and let our running backs make plays. Hopefully, they can break a couple tackles here and there, get us some extra yards and get some points on the board.

3. Defensively, how do you stop a guy like James Franklin (1,062 yards and 14 touchdowns)?

“You don’t stop him. You try to contain him. The main thing you’ve got to do with him is you’ve got to wrap him up … because if not, he breaks tackles. And he runs hard, and he runs fast.

4. What’s the reaction in the film room when you’re watching tape of James Franklin and some of his highlights this year?

“Wow. I mean, he’s a special player.”

3 Gardner Edgerton has three players with at least 400 yards rushing and seven touchdowns. Running back Brett Jensen leads the Trailblazers with 566 yards and nine TDs, while quarterback Bubba Starling has 524 yards in only 29 carries with seven rushing scores. Running back Ryan Weber also has 414 yards and sevens touchdowns.

5 It’s the number of teams that have filled the merry-go-round position — the No. 4 spot — in The Star’s big-class top-five rankings. Rockhurst becomes the latest, joining past No. 4s Blue Valley Northwest, Gardner Edgerton, Fort Osage and Blue Valley.

45.5 Average margin of victory in Lawrence Free State’s first two home games at its new on-campus stadium. Tonight, the Firebirds play host to undefeated Olathe North, a team that hasn’t won a Sunflower League football title in five years.

1,114 That’s how many yards Olathe South quarterback Tanner Dutton has passed for through five games — nearly twice as many as any other quarterback in the Sunflower League. Dutton, who has completed 105 of 169 attempts with seven TDs and only three interceptions, faces SM East this week.

•Blue Valley (1-4) at St. Thomas Aquinas (5-0)

The Saints can secure the East Kansas League title outright with a win over the struggling but potentially dangerous Tigers, who were 10-2 just last season. “I told the kids already … this is the best 1-4 team I’ve seen,” Aquinas coach Mike Thomas said.

•Jefferson City (5-1) at Rockhurst (4-2)

Rockhurst faces Jefferson City for the second time in three weeks — the result of the Hawklets not being able to find a 10th opponent this season. Rockhurst handed the Jays their only loss this season and, despite a tough schedule that has featured two state champions and several ranked teams, the Hawklets have proved to be a contender in Missouri Class 6.

•Olathe North (5-0) at Lawrence Free State (4-1)

The Eagles haven’t been severely tested, but Lawrence Free State promises to give top-ranked Olathe North a stern battle. Free State’s defense must contain running back James Franklin, and Olathe North must bottle up dual-threat QB Camren Torneden.

•St. James Academy (4-1) at Tonganoxie (4-1)

It’s a battle between talented, athletic quarterbacks as Jim Getto leads St. James against Tongy’s Jeremy Carlisle, who had four touchdowns last week in a 75-12 win against Santa Fe Trail.

•Winnetonka (5-1) at Park Hill (5-1)

If you like physical football, this one is for you. Both teams have a penchant for running the ball and would love to keep that momentum going in the final game before district play. Expect this game to be won up front.

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