Helias to open postseason again against Liberty: Wentzville

Helias running back Blake Veltrop turns upfield during a game against Rock Bridge earlier this season at Ray Hentges Stadium.
Helias running back Blake Veltrop turns upfield during a game against Rock Bridge earlier this season at Ray Hentges Stadium.

At least the site has changed.

If the Helias Crusaders are starting the football postseason, Liberty: Wentzville must be somewhere nearby. For the third time in four years, the fourth-seeded Crusaders (4-5) and fifth-seeded Eagles (4-5) will meet in the opening round of Class 4 district play in Jefferson City.

But instead of Adkins Stadium, the Crusaders will play their first-ever postseason game at Ray Hentges Stadium at 7 p.m. today.

"Everybody's got a clean slate, it's simple. You win and you move on," Helias coach Tim Rulo said. "After Friday night, half of the teams in the state won't be playing anymore and you don't want to be one of them."

Helias has defeated Liberty: Wentzville comfortably in their previous two district meetings - 83-12 in 2014 and 45-0 in 2015 that was Rulo's first postseason game as coach of the Crusaders.

But Rulo isn't expecting that easy of a time of it tonight.

"Two years removed, you can see they have a routine and they have some things going," he said. "They're doing good stuff and playing well.

"They can scare you a little bit. We're going to have to be sure we're ready to go."

The Eagles, who run out of a split-back veer similar to Hannibal, are averaging just under 32 points per game this season. The run-based offense is averaging nearly 7.4 yards per attempt.

Donavan Arrington (6-foot, 170-pound jr.) leads the Eagles with 916 rushing yards (8.6 avg.) and 11 touchdowns from the quarterback position. Wesley Hines (6-2, 180 sr.) is the Eagles top running back with 755 yards (8.7 avg.) and nine scores.

"Those two really make them go," Rulo said.

Tito Plaza (5-9, 190 sr.) has added 567 yards (6.0 avg.) on the ground and four touchdowns.

The Eagles average less than nine pass attempts per game. Arrington is 32-of-78 for 378 yards and four touchdowns with seven interceptions.

"They will take their shots and try to be aggressive with the pass when the time calls for it," Rulo said.

Jarrin McKeithen (6-2, 170 jr.) is Arrington's top target with 18 catches for 218 yards and two touchdowns.

The Eagles have had problems stopping teams this season. In their five losses, the Eagles have allowed at least 48 points to each of their opponents.

Liberty: Wentzville operates out of an even front the majority of the time on defense. Against option teams like the Crusaders, the Eagles have gone with four linebackers to stack the box against the run.

Sophomore linebacker Ben Adelsberger (5-10, 210) leads the Eagles with 95 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, three sacks and three interceptions.

Hunter Perkins (5-8, 190 jr.), a linebacker, is next with 59 tackles, while lineman Tayte Sanders (5-9. 200 jr.) has 55 stops.

The Crusaders are coming off one of their tightest games of the season, a 38-31 loss to DeSmet in St. Louis.

"Early in the season, we had some close games, but since then, it has been really, really big wins or sadly, our losses have not been as competitive as we would like on the scoreboard," Rulo said. "That one was one of the more contested we've played, I was happy the guys kept battling the whole time."

Connor McKenna got the start at quarterback for Helias in place of the injured Daniel Rhea. He completed 6-of-9 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown, while running for two other scores.

"Anytime a person has to step up and move from the backup role to the starter can be difficult and I think he handled it well," Rulo said. "He's competitive, he's a hard-worker, he's put his time in. He's always trying to figure out how to get better."

Rhea and McKenna are scheduled to split time under center tonight.

Rulo said the Crusaders have been battling minor injuries and illnesses this week.

"Good programs have to have that next guy ready to step up at this time of the year," he said. "Whether it's sickness, injury or whatever, things happen that you need to be ready for."

Rulo believes the Crusaders have what it takes to make a run this postseason.

"Maybe I am the eternal optimist, but I believe the district championship is there for us," he said. "Nobody is going to hand it to us, we're going to have to play great football. But that's what you want."

That said, he believes Helias' full focus is on tonight's game.

"We want to be fine-tuned, we can't be caught looking ahead and get tripped up," Rulo said.

III

Helias is planning to hold a moment of silence before tonight's game in honor of DeSmet assistant coach Jaz Granderson, who was shot and killed early Monday morning in St. Louis.

"What a terrible tragedy," Rulo said. "I know that it has to be a terrible situation for the DeSmet family, there really aren't any words to describe it."

DeSmet officials called Rulo on Monday to inform him of the shooting. The Spartans were scheduled to face the Crusaders in a lower level game that day at Hentges Stadium. That game was postponed and will now be played this Monday.

Granderson, 27, played at Kirkwood High School and collegiately at Northern Iowa and Lindenwood.

"There's nothing we can do to make up for that kind of loss, but we want to do what we can to honor him and be supportive of that community," Rulo said.

III

Notes: Tonight's game will be an unusually long trip - 100 miles one-way - for the Eagles this season. According to Google Maps, in its four regular-season road games, Liberty: Wentzville has traveled all of 134 miles roundtrip. Their longest trip was 58 total miles in the season-opener at Warrenton. Helias' shortest trip this year was 56 miles to and from Tolton as the Crusaders have traveled a total of 900 miles in their five road games. Tonight's winner will face the winner of tonight's game between top-seeded Warrenton (8-1) and Marshall (0-9) next Friday. Warrenton, which defeated Liberty: Wentzville 49-21 to start the season, would host that district semifinal with a victory. The other two district games tonight will pit second-seeded Moberly hosting Kirksville and sixth-seeded Warrensburg playing at third-seeded and defending district champion Hannibal. Liberty: Wentzville is 0-3 all-time in district play. In addition to its two losses to the Crusaders, the Eagles fell 26-20 last season to the Moberly.

Related media:

Helias Crusaders Football Podcast [Liberty: Wentzville preview, Oct. 20, 2017]