The Helias Crusaders checked a lot of boxes this football season. They won the city championship for the fourth consecutive season, captured the Central Missouri Activities Conference crown for a third time and won a district title for the first time in three tries in Class 5 to advance into the state bracket.
The Helias Crusaders made it into the Class 5 football bracket. They don’t want it to be a short trip. “We know we’ve got a tough test ahead of us,” Helias coach Chris Hentges said as the Crusaders prepare to travel today to Republic for a state-ranked quarterfinal contest against the Tigers. “It’s a growing school district with a lot of great athletes.”
In Week 6, it was Helias 43, Capital City 17. In Week 12, that result means nothing as top-seeded Helias (9-1) prepares to take on third-seeded Capital City (8-3) in the Class 5 District 5 championship game tonight at Ray Hentges Stadium. “We’re expecting a really tight ballgame,” Helias coach Chris Hentges said.
You don’t get style points. The Helias Crusaders did the most important thing this time of the year Friday night: win the game. “Overall, it’s a win, you move the next line in the playoffs,” Helias coach Chris Hentges said after a 38-28 victory against the Washington Blue Jays in the Class 5 District 5 semifinals at Ray Hentges Stadium. “We have to play better next week or we won’t be advancing out of districts, that’s the bottom line.”
On Monday, it was time to go back to work. After a bye week to start the postseason, the Helias Crusaders will start Class 5 District 5 play tonight when they host the Washington Blue Jays at Ray Hentges Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.