Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Free State’s Maddon Brittingham celebrates a touchdown against Olathe East early in the second half of an opening round playoff game Oct. 31, 2025 at Free State High School.
For Free State Firebirds’ star tailback Maddon Brittingham, it was just another ho-hum night on the gridiron.
But for those watching, it was a record-smashing performance that propelled the sixth-seeded Firebirds to a 61-47 victory over the visiting 11th-seeded Olathe East Hawks in the opening round of the class 6A playoffs Friday night.
Brittingham rolled up 283 yards and seven touchdowns on 21 totes, eclipsing the program’s longheld single-game record for rushing scores.
Falling just shy of breaking the school’s single-game rushing mark (300), Brittingham said he was unaware that he was approaching that yardage number. He added that his sole focus was improving on recent performances during the team’s two-game losing skid to close out the regular-season.
“I put it on myself to go out there and do it for my team and my brothers,” Brittingham said, adding that he “felt great” despite a nagging ankle injury.
“The offensive line really just built a path for me tonight.”
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Free State’s Maddon Brittingham points to the sky to celebrate a rushing touchdown in the first half of an opening round playoff game Oct. 31, 2025 at Free State High School.
After witnessing his squad roll up more than 600 yards of total offense, Free State head coach Kevin Stewart said he was pleased to see the Firebirds’ passing game also clicking, and that the game-plan centered on making Olathe East respect Free State’s wide receivers.
And they did just that as senior signal-caller Finn Moore accounted for 250 yards of offense in the first half, including 105 through the air.
“The success in the passing game probably took [Olathe East] a little bit out of their run defense,” Stewart said.
As far as the record-setting performance, Stewart said that Brittingham was reading blocks as well as he’s ever had and was also hitting holes with authority.
“He was able to get to the line and show some of his acceleration and speed,” Stewart said. “He’s just got that speed burst.”
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Free State’s Finn Moore throws a pass against Olathe East during an opening round playoff game Oct. 31, 2025 at Free State High School.
Free State’s first two touchdowns of the night came on Brittingham runs, including a bruising 19-yard scamper to open the scoring early in the opening frame. Facing a 4th-and-long late in the first quarter, Moore connected with senior wideout Ethan Prescott for a 35-yard touchdown strike, staking the Firebirds to a commanding 21-0 lead.
Brittingham and Moore made sure they set the tone, rolling up 305 rushing yards and five touchdowns en route to a 41-20 halftime lead. Brittingham’s fourth touchdown of the half came on a 55-yard run — gaining the left edge and bolting down the sideline untouched.
After Free State’s deficit was trimmed to 41-27 early in the third, Brittingham, on the first play of the ensuing possession, broke off a 76-year touchdown romp run the left sideline, handing the Lions a 47-27 advantage.
Later in the third quarter, Brittingham notched his sixth touchdown of the game on a six yard carry, capping a 14-play 81-yard drive that chewed nearly eight minutes off the clock. The offensive fireworks continued on the Hawks’ ensuing drive courtesy of quarterback Milo Burton’s 62-yard romp, eluding multiple defenders and cutting back across the field. The rushing score shaved Free State’s lead to 54-40.
Not to be outdone, the Firebirds replied with a methodical drive, punctuated by Brittingham’s six-yard rushing score, and seventh touchdown of the night for a 61-40 lead with just under four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The Hawks then tacked on a late touchdown to account for the final margin.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Free State’s Ethan Prescott prepares to a haul in a reception on what would become a touchdown play in the first half during an opening round playoff game Oct. 31, 2025 at Free State High School.
Stewart added that offensive outbursts have been an epidemic for opposing Sunflower League defenses of late, and the Firebirds were no exception. Like his counterpart Moore, Burton also got it done with his legs and through the air — gashing Free State’s defense for 355 total yards — which included a trio of rushing touchdowns and three through the air.
“The Burton kid was more athletic than our guys and he showed that,” Stewart said. “There were multiple times where we had them third-and-long, fourth-and-long, and couldn’t get them off the field.”
Added Stewart, “The whole Sunflower League this week was giving up points left and right. I don’t really know what’s going on with the league, but it’s not very fun to play games like that.”
Free State (6-3) hits the road for a matchup with third-seeded Shawnee Mission Northwest Cougars (6-3) next Friday, with kickoff slated for 7 pm. The Cougars are fresh off Thursday night’s 50-40 opening-round victory over Lawrence High.
Stewart said the Cougars utilize a run-heavey flexbone triple option offense.
“We will for sure have our hands full,” he said.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Free State’s Braden Wilmes lifts up teammate Maddon Brittingham to celebrate a touchdown score early in the second half during an opening round playoff game Oct. 31, 2025 at Free State High School.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Free State’s Maddon Brittingham finds a wide-open path to the end zone on a touchdown run during an opening round playoff game Oct. 31, 2025 at Free State High School.
