Knights hand Crusaders third
consecutive setback, 41-13

Helias sophomore quarterback Jacob Weaver (14) looks for running room during the first quarter of Friday night's game with Borgia at Ray Hentges Stadium.

Loeffler's Link

Sept. 21, 2018

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. --- Despite winning 15 of their last 16, you had to wonder how good the Borgia Knights really were.

Why? Good question.

Because of those 15 wins prior to Friday night, how many of those opponents had winning records?

Two.

And none of their four opponents this season had a winning record --- the four were a combined 4-12.

Bad answer, simply because the Knights had apparently beaten a lot of bad teams.

Having said that, 15-1 is still 15-1 ... and now, make that 16-1.

Bad schedule or not, the Knights are quite good.

Borgia scored touchdowns on five of its first seven possessions and Louis Eckelkamp ran for four scores as the ninth-ranked Knights (5-0) handed the Helias Crusaders their third straight loss, 41-13, before a capacity crowd Friday night at Ray Hentges Stadium.

It was another tough defensive night for the Crusaders (2-3), who have now given up 110 points during their losing streak. But if you're looking for some small measure of consolation, there's this:

Helias' three losses were to opponents who are now a combined 14-1 after Friday night --- and the one loss was to the No. 1 team in Arkansas.

You're right, that's small consolation.

This was a battle between two teams in Class 4 District 5, and the outcome solidified Borgia's No. 1 spot in the district and left Helias wandering in the middle of the pack.

The Knights started taking charge late in the first quarter,. Facing a 4th-and-5 from the Helias 16, sophomore quarterback Sam Heggemann threw one up for grabs in the end zone --- and 5-6 senior Tyler Glossmeyer grabbed it away from a pair of defenders to give Borgia a 7-0 lead with 1:34 left in the first quarter.

It went to 14-0 when Heggemann dumped a short pass to Tyler Stieffermann, who darted his way for a 72-yard touchdown with eight minutes left in the half. That finished off a 98-yard drive, a drive that was set up by a bobbling and diving interception by Borgia's Cole Meyer.

The rest of the offensive night for the Knights was all about 5-9, 220-pound senior running back Eckelkamp, who rushed for 175 yards on 26 carries. His first touchdown was a 4-yarder with 43 seconds left before the break to bump the margin to 21-0. 

The brightest spot of the night for the Crusaders was supplied by the strong leg of junior Vito Calvaruso, who booted a 42-yard field goal into a stiff breeze on the last play of first half to make it 21-3. Then on the opening possession of the second half, Calvaruso's 38-yard field goal pulled the Crusaders within two scores at 21-6.

After the Knights promptly answered with an 80-yard drive in six plays to make it 27-6 on Eckelkamp's 2-yard run midway through the third, the Crusaders fired back to cut the lead to 27-13 on Jacob Weaver's 15-yard run.

Then came the sequence that sealed the deal.

Because after Weaver's score, the Knights' fumbled on the first play and Helias' Michael Strosser recovered. At that point, this much was clear:

The game was on.

But two plays later, the Crusaders fumbled it right back to the Knights, who promptly drove it 66 yards to make it 34-13 on Eckelkamp's 6-yard run.

The game was off.

Eckelkamp capped the scoring on a 1-run for the Knights, who finished with a 404-286 edge in total yards.

The Crusaders will celebrate Homecoming next Saturday when they host Father Tolton (1-4), which was pummeled by Cardinal Ritter 49-14 on Friday night.

The Crusaders feel the Trailblazers' pain --- last week, Ritter beat Helias 61-35.