Class 6A football semifinal: Free State at Derby

The chance to play for a Class 6A football title comes down to Friday’s semifinals.

Here’s a closer look at the Free State-Derby game.

Class 6A

FREE STATE (8-3) at DERBY (10-1), 7 p.m.

Free State

Top players: QB-S Bryce Torneden, sr.; RB-LB Sam Skwarlo, sr.; OG-LB Jay Dineen jr.; OL Paul Bittinger, sr.; OL Drew Tochtrop, sr.; RB-S Zion Bowlin, jr.

Key stats: Torneden has 1,242 passing yards, has thrown two interceptions, has 1,025 rushing yards and has caught four interceptions. Skwarlo has 101 tackles and 1,478 rushing yards.

Firebirds coach Bob Lisher

Reaction to being in the semifinals: “This is our fifth semifinal since 2006 and we’ve only won one of them. I’d like to win one. It’s a good feeling, an accomplishment in and of itself. Getting to this part, the final four, is pretty good, too.”

What has gotten you here: “We had some adversity early when we were still searching for an identity. We tried some different combinations and moved some people around on our offensive and defensive lines. Even though we lost those three straight against pretty good teams, we were in all three of those games.… We saw we had opportunities to win but lost to good teams. The kids knew we were pretty good but we had to eliminate mistakes.”

What will it take to win: “A herculean effort, always. Derby’s been there many times. We’ve been there once. We’re trying to learn what it takes, but they know. Our kids have to learn to do things right and eliminate mistakes.”

What fans should know about your team: “I think we do some very good things offensively and defensively. And so does Derby. (Torneden) runs the offense and he runs the defense. He gets us in the right sets on defense and gets the ball in the right hands on offense. It all starts with him. How he goes is how we go.”

Derby

Top players: QB Brady Rust, sr.; OL Trevor Hudson, sr.; WR Kenyon Tabor, jr.; DL Peerlus Walker, sr.; LB Dan Conner, sr.; LB Tommy Carter, jr.

Key stats: Rust has 1,341 passing yards and a team-high 1,700 rushing yards. Tabor has 497 receiving yards and Kai Lemons has 471.

Panthers coach Brandon Clark

Reaction to being in the semifinals: “It was our goal to get here, but it’s not our final goal. It’s exciting, but we just treated this week like any other week. We have to get better if we want to beat Free State.”

What has gotten you here: “I don’t think we’ve necessarily been bigger or faster or stronger than anybody. But they play pretty well together. They play for each other. They play as a team.”

What will it take to win: “Obviously we needed to shut down their quarterback and their running back. They’re probably the best two guys in the backfield that we’ve seen, and their offensive line is pretty good, too. The X factor is going to be special teams. We have to with that.”

What fans should know about your team: “We play as a team. We’ve got smart football players. We adjust on the fly. I know our defense made adjustments that helped them out a ton last week. We drew up three, four plays in timeouts and half — they got it and went with it.”

This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 2:45 PM with the headline "Class 6A football semifinal: Free State at Derby."