Entering Thursday’s game against Olathe Northwest, Free State’s football team had a goal of scoring on its first offensive possession.

It only took 13 seconds.

On the first play, senior quarterback Gage Foster connected with junior receiver Keenan Garber on an 80-yard touchdown pass. Garber raced behind the entire defense on a post pattern and went untouched on his way to the end zone. It was a play the coaching staff drew up in practice this week, convinced it would work against Olathe Northwest’s defensive alignment.

Garber’s quick score was only a sign of things to come for Free State’s offense in an eventual 42-14 victory at College Boulevard Activity Center.

“That was pretty much the game plan,” said Garber, who had three catches for 93 yards. “We just came out and wanted to score the first drive, bring up the energy. We wanted to move fast.”

The Firebirds (6-0, ranked No. 1 in Class 6A) made long touchdown plays their speciality in the first half, erasing any memories of their slow starts in recent games. Foster had a 59-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, fooling the defense on a fake handoff to junior running back Jax Dineen.

At the beginning of the second quarter, on 3rd-and-10, Dineen broke through a few tackles for a 45-yard touchdown run. Junior quarterback Jordan Preston, who spelled Foster for a few drives, added a 23-yard touchdown toss to junior Leonjay Mack.

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