Miles Beaty/Miles of Media/FS Journalism
Free State quarterback Finn Moore walks up the field with his head down during the Firebirds 47-7 home loss against Manhattan on Friday, Sept. 12.
After a star-studded offensive performance in its opening week triumph over defending Class 6A champion Gardner Edgerton, the Free State Firebirds fizzled in a 47-7 loss against visiting Manhattan Friday night.
Free State head coach Kevin Stewart said that his squad was “outmatched and outclassed” in every facet of the game.
“As prepared as we were last week [against Gardner Edgerton], we were equally unprepared this week,” he said. “We started off bad and didn’t get any better.”
Fresh off a performance that saw Finn Moore roll up 180 yards on the ground, the star signal-caller was held to just one rushing yard in the first half against Manhattan’s stingy defense.
Manhattan struck first courtesy of McLain Aslin’s 4-yard rushing score at the midpoint of the opening frame. Later in the quarter, senior wideout JJ Dunnigan, a Kansas Jayhawk commit, hauled in a short pass — eluding multiple defenders en route to a 37-yard touchdown — staking Manhattan to a 14-0 advantage.
Senior running back Maddon Brittingham’s 10-yard rushing score trimmed Free State’s deficit to 14-7 late in the first quarter. Manhattan padded its cushion courtesy of Aslin’s second rushing score of the half — as Manhattan built a 21-7 lead entering the half.
Manhattan (2-0), widely considered the top team in Class 6A, unleashed its full offensive repertoire in the second half — beginning with Dunnigan’s highlight reel kick return that had Manhattan setting up shop deep in Free State territory. On third-and-and-long, senior quarterback Finn Watson connected with tight end Greyson Wassenberg for an 18-yard touchdown strike in the left corner of the end zone. The extra point handed Manhattan a 28-7 lead.
Manhattan’s stout defensive line continued to stymie the Firebirds — holding Free State to just 53 yards rushing for the contest. Leading 34-7 late in the third quarter, senior wide receiver Ja’Marcus Vornes landed the knockout blow after gaining the left edge and bolting 63-yards to paydirt, swelling Manhattan’s advantage to 40-7.
Manhattan racked up 408 yards of total offense — including 284 on the ground, while averaging 8.1 yards per carry. Free State, meanwhile, was only able to muster 31 yards of total offense in the second half.
Dunnigan’s kick return to the Free State 5-yard-line to open the second half proved deflating, Stewart said, adding that the plan was to kick it away from the star KU commit.
“That kid is just better than all our guys — there is no doubt about that,” Stewart said. “And I’m not going to blame our kids for that.”
As far as Free State’s paltry 2.2 yards per carry on 24 attempts, Manhattan’s defensive line overpowered Free State with blitzes up the middle, while also successfully containing the edges.
“Last week we were able to lean on our offensive line,” Stewart said.
Stewart noted that attention to detail will be a focal point going forward.
“I didn’t see a lot of bright spots tonight, but I did see a lot of learning opportunities,” he said. “We had several guys get hurt and some of our backups weren’t ready to go in, not knowing their role.
“Im not going to say our kids gave up in the second half, but it wasn’t a very good effort.”
Free State (1-1) hits the road next Friday for a road clash with Shawnee Mission West — who moved to 1-1 after a 34-13 victory over Lincoln College Prep.
