Undefeated Helias Catholic heads to state quarterfinals after 49-14 win
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (BVM) — Another win for the Helias Catholic Crusaders came as no surprise to the undefeated football team Friday night when they dominated the Warrensburg Tigers, 49-14.
The Crusaders have a perfect 13-0 record this season, but Warrensburg was not trailing far behind in the conference with their 9-3 overall record for 2020.
Helias is currently ranked 7th in the state on the season, but Warrensburg sat inside the top-50 teams as well, ranked 48th in Missouri. While it seemed Friday’s match up was bound to favor the Crusaders, the Tigers have pulled an impressive season together for their district as well, and were looking to pull off the upset.
The night started on the right foot for the Crusaders, who managed their first touchdown halfway through the first quarter. Senior quarterback Jacob Weaver flicked a tight pass to running back Alex Clement to get them on the board first.
As promising as the Crusader offense proves to be, the defense is what sets the team apart this season — especially during the first half of the Warrensburg match up.
A few minutes after Helias made it onto the board, Warrensburg quarterback Eli Nappe sailed the ball into Helias territory. But Crusaders’ senior defensive back Drew Higgins was ready to run.
Higgins picked the ball off and ran it all the way back just shy of the Tigers’ 30-yard line. Moments after the interception, player of the night Ryan Klahr took it into the end zone on the first play of the drive for another Helias touchdown.
However, the picks did not stop there for Klahr. With just under 30 seconds left in the first quarter, and 5-foot-6 Klahr on defense, Helias saw another pick six as the junior Crusader intercepted another throw from Nappe.
Helias scored touchdown after touchdown, taking Warrensburg into the half with a 42-point lead. With all of their points for the night scored in the first half, work for the Crusaders came down to the defense after half time, something that head coach Chris Hentges said he was not worried about.
“If you look at the defensive improvement over the last three years, this year certainly is our best year defensively,” Hentges told KOMU Sports of his Crusaders. “That really starts up front with our defensive line.”
Considering Helias only allowed one additional touchdown from Warrensburg in the second half, Hentges was right about his team.
The Helias Crusaders have not given up a game yet this season, and they hope to keep that streak alive this Friday as they host West Plains in the state quarterfinals.
