Baker and Simpson return to lead Free State past LHS in City Showdown

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence Free State senior Boston Baker passes the ball to a teammate against Lawrence High on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Lawrence.

Rivalries in sports highlight the competitive nature of almost everyone, and on Friday night at the City Showdown, that nature was on display for key players on the Free State football team as the Firebirds defeated Lawrence, 24-14 .

In the third quarter of the Firebirds’ Week 5 matchup at Olathe West, quarterback Boston Baker had to leave the game after taking a hit on the sideline. As it turned out, Baker landed awkwardly and was ruled out for the next two weeks with a broken wrist.

Even after being away for those two weeks, nothing was going to stop him from competing against rival Lawrence for the first and only time in his career.

“Since he got hurt, his goal was to get back to Lawrence High,” Free State head coach Kevin Stewart said. “And I said ‘I don’t know.’ I told him I don’t guarantee anything. He’s put in the work and showed us this week that ‘hey, I can do this, coach,’ so we were confident he could go out and do it. And it paid off for us.”

Baker’s appearance in Friday night’s game didn’t come without a small cut to the large cast that covered almost his entire left arm during the first two weeks of recovery.

Before last week’s battle with Shawnee Mission Northwest, Baker participated in pregame warmups but did not compete. This week, with the help of medical professionals, the cast was able to be cut just below the elbow, allowing for greater mobility so that snapshots could be taken.

The play-taking issue was evident, as on the first play of the game, Baker fumbled but ultimately completed his handoff. However, the rest of the game went off without a hitch, including a clean bag all night.

“I have to give all the credit to my O-line,” Baker said. “They didn’t touch me, they didn’t hit me. I have a big, bulky cast, so I’m glad they didn’t touch me. “All the credit goes to them.”

This is not the first injury Baker has suffered throughout his high school career. In fact, it is his third, as he tore his left and right ACL in the previous two seasons. Despite the injuries that always seem to pile up for Baker, he knows it’s just another aspect of football.

“I am a resilient person. “I’m not always going to back out of a fight and come back as quickly as possible,” Baker said.

Baker put together a quietly impressive first half through the air. With the Firebirds relying on the running game as much as they could, Baker’s impact as a passer was clear and evident as he completed 7 of 9 passes for 62 yards, including a 41-yard downfield pass to Bralin Preston that ultimately set up scoring a field goal

Baker finished the second half with just two completions, but they came on arguably the two biggest plays of the night. Baker found Maddon Brittingham in the third quarter, who returned the ball to complete a 29-yard gain that ultimately set up a Parker Moore touchdown. Then, on the first play of the fourth quarter, Baker found Braiden Blanchard in a wide open spot for a 52-yard touchdown that ultimately put the game out of reach.

Free State had another star waiting to return, in the form of Noah Simpson. Simpson impressed in the season opener against Shawnee Mission East, rushing for 86 yards on 14 carries. Against Lawrence High, Simpson made his presence known immediately, posting two runs of 30-plus yards on the first drive. Simpson finished the first half with 76 yards on just seven carries.

Unfortunately for Simpson, he suffered his third injury of the season after gaining a combined 16 yards on two carries to open the half. Even without his presence in the second half, his impact was certainly felt in the Firebirds’ offense.

“Without him, we probably won’t win that game, because we just don’t have that confidence and energy,” Stewart said. “He really did a great job and I’m very proud of him.”

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence Free State senior Noah Simpson looks for a first down against Lawrence High on Friday, October 25, 2024 in Lawrence.

Free State took the win and finished the regular season with a 5-3 record and earned the No. 5 seed in the 6A East group. The Firebirds have a familiar foe in the first round, hosting No. 12 Olathe West, which they defeated 30-13 on the road in week five. The start of the first round at the Free State stadium is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m.