A.J. Raines was as good as advertised. The Timberland senior quarterback racked up 430 yards of total offense Friday night to lead the fourth-seeded Wolves to a 41-24 victory against the second-seeded Helias Cruasders in the Class 5 District 4 championship game at Ray Hentges Stadium.
The start time for the game was moved up two hours in an attempt to beat the weather. As the Helias Crusaders took knees Friday night to wrap up a 45-14 victory against the Battle Spartans at Ray Hentges Stadium, the rain began to come down for the first time. Timing is everything.
The Liberty: Wentzville Eagles have nothing to lose. “We expect them to come in and play hard because it really is the start of a second season,” Helias coach Chris Hentges said as the Crusaders (7-2) open Class 5 District 4 play tonight against the Eagles (3-6) at Ray Hentges Stadium. “Teams that struggle in the regular season, they can go into districts thinking they have nothing to lose. It’s coach-speak, but it’s true.”
On a night where the Helias honored some of its first teams in football program history, the current Crusaders put on a show. Helias scored seven first-half touchdowns Friday night, then added a last-minute field goal before halftime for good measure, on its way to a 59-13 victory against the Vianney Golden Griffins at Ray Hentges Stadium.