Helias wide receiver Damon Johanns has a deep pass from quarterback Jake Weaver go off his finger tips during the first quarter of Friday night's game with Rock Bridge at Ray Hentges Stadium.

Crusaders dismiss Bruins in battle
of unbeaten, state-ranked teams

Loeffler's Link

Chris Leuckel

 ​Sept. 25, 2020

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. --- First team to 50 wins

Actually, 49 points should do it, don't you think?

Well, Capital City put up 49 against Rock Bridge last week and lost --- by 27.

Defense remains optional for some teams.

Would it be more of the same for Rock Bridge against the Helias Crusaders in a clash of state-ranked teams?

No.

It's not exactly like the Crusaders showcase a Steel Curtain, but this Phil Pitts defense looks to be better than most the Bruins will face this season.

And it was certainly good enough Friday night.

Alex Clement scored on an 11-yard run less than four minutes into the game and Helias would never be headed, as the Crusaders, No. 1 in Class 4, dismissed the Class 6 No. 10 Bruins 56-24 in a Central Missouri Athletic Conference battle for first place at Ray Hentges Stadium.

The Crusaders (5-0,3-0 CMAC) beat the Bruins (4-1, 3-1) for the second straight year and hold a 6-5 lead in the series.

And now, the first-ever CMAC crown is now solidly in their control. It is theirs to lose.

In this race to 50, the outcome was never in doubt and it was basically over by halftime. Helias could have gone scoreless in the second half and sill won. 

Clement's score finished off a game-opening 10-play, 66-yard drive with 8:01 left in the first quarter, and Helias would carry a 7-3 lead into the second. The margin moved to 28-10 at the break after a dominant first half that saw Helias outgain Rock Bridge 290-95.

Helias made it 14-3 on a 31-yard pass from Jake Weaver to Cole Stumpe, which was just the start of a huge night for the senior quarterback.

He finished with three touchdown passes and also added a 20-yard scoring run, as he racked up nearly 400 yards of total offense.

Weaver also had a 68-yard touchdown heave to Stumpe in the fourth at Helias had stopped Rock Bridge on a fourth-down attempt, and a 16-yard strike to Drew Higgins.

Helias, which led 42-24 after three quarters, also had touchdown runs of six yards by  Ryan Klahr and 14 yards by Carson Brauner. The latter closed out the scoring late in the fourth.

This was the third of five straight games in Jefferson City for the Crusaders --- their first three were home games, and now they'll "travel" to Adkins Stadium for the next two.

After playing Capital City (0-5) next Friday, the Crusaders will meet the Jefferson City Jays (2-3) in the first-ever meeting on the football field for the crosstown rivals.

The Jays won their second straight Friday night with a 36-0 win over the Cavaliers.

Jefferson City-Helias has been a game people have wanted to see for decades. It's finally here but on paper, it looks like a one-sided affair in favor of the Crusaders.

But you just never know, it's why you play the game. Because sometimes, you can score 49 points and still lose by 27.