Gardner Edgerton junior running back Manny Mulwa rushed 42 times for 287 yards and five touchdowns on Friday, Sept. 18, carrying the Trailblazers to a 35-14 win over Lawrence Free State in Lawrence.

The victory moves Gardner Edgerton to 2-1 after a 20-6 loss to Hays on Sept. 11. Free State, previously unbeaten, fell to 2-1 in what was the Firebirds' home opener.

Mulwa did all of his damage on the ground, scoring on runs of 8, 9, 12, 19 and 10 yards. Gardner Edgerton piled up 323 rushing yards and 361 total, controlling the ball for more than 30 minutes, according to the Lawrence Journal-World.

Free State jumped ahead early. Senior quarterback Finn Moore ripped off a 51-yard fake-punt touchdown run in the first quarter, then hit sophomore receiver Packson McDaniel on a 44-yard scoring pass for a 14-6 lead.

Mulwa's 9-yard score and a two-point conversion pass from Carson McCall to Dawson Cassida tied the game at 14. Free State's defense held on a fourth-and-goal stop from the 6-yard line to keep it knotted at halftime.

The second half belonged to Gardner Edgerton.

Mulwa broke the tie with a 12-yard run in the third quarter. In the fourth, the Trailblazers ground out a 90-yard drive lasting 9 minutes and 23 seconds, capped by Mulwa's 19-yard score. A Free State kickoff miscommunication gave Gardner Edgerton the ball right back, and Mulwa punched in a 10-yard run to finish the scoring.

Free State head coach Kevin Stewart credited Gardner Edgerton's offensive line for wearing down his defense.

"… It was really more their offensive line and our defensive line," Stewart said. "Their offensive line was playing with great pad level, and our guys were standing up, and that's why we got beat."

Moore completed 8 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown while adding 59 rushing yards for Free State. Stewart said his offense lacked a clear identity in the loss.

Free State hosts Shawnee Mission North on Friday, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m.