Helias Crusaders quarterback Jacob Weaver looks for running room around right end during the first quarter of Friday night's game with Cardinal Ritter at Ray Hentges Stadium.

Crusaders earn ninth unbeaten

regular season in school history

Jays lose heartbreaker,

but progress of this

​team is easily evident

Loeffler's Link

Chris Leuckel

Oct. 23, 2020

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. --- Here's a good Helias football trivia question:

Who was the last coach not named Hentges to have an undefeated regular season?

A ) Phil Pitts

B ) Mike Jeffries

C ) Pete Adkins
Okay, it's a trick question --- and the trick is not that the answer is C.

But it's not A or B, either. The last time was the first coach in school history, Jack Schnieders --- a mere 61 years ago.

Friday night, the Crusaders reached the goal for the ninth time in school history --- and the first time since 2009 --- as Jacob Weaver ran for two touchdowns and threw for a score as Helias knocked off the Cardinal Ritter Lions 27-18 at Ray Hentges Stadium.

In the House that Ray Built, it's only fitting his son, Chris, was the latest to achieve the feat for the Crusaders (9-0). It's the third time Chris has done it (2007, 2009), tying both Ray (1983, 1996-97) and Schnieders (1957-59) for the school's high-water mark.

This it was an odd game, as more than half the game's touchdowns were compacted in a span of five plays and one kickoff return.

And one day after enjoying golf and barbecue weather, this night gave us football weather.

Cold.

The explosive Lions (0-3) have only played three games this season, which was delayed six weeks by Covid concerns in the St. Louis area. But it's the third straight ranked team they've faced and not only that, they'd beaten the Crusaders the last two seasons.

So this was not a gimme for the Crusaders (No. 1, Class 4), whose average margin of victory had been 31 points.

Guys like 6-2, 195-pound Luther Burden III don't make it easy for any mortal high school team, as the Oklahoma commit caught a 36-yard touchdown pass from T.J. Atkins on the game's first possession to give the Lions a 6-0 lead.

Three plays later, the Crusaders--- who will receive a first-round district bye next week --- took the lead for good on Weaver's 54-yard burst and it was 7-6 after just three minutes.

Two touchdowns in a four-play span. And after Helias made it 14-6 on dazzling 19-yard run by Ryan Klahr with 8:03 left in the first half, Burden had an equally dazzling 98-yard return on the ensuing kickoff to make it 14-12.

Weaver's four-yard touchdown pass to Cole Stumpe less than two minutes later gave the Crusaders a 21-12 lead at the break, before the senior quarterback broke free for a 45-yard touchdown early in the third quarter.

The Lions would get within 27-18 entering the fourth, but never threatened again during the scoreless fourth.

It was a landmark night for the program that's been playing football since 1956, and Chris Hentges joins good company. And this is an exclusive group, indeed --- Helias has had only six head coaches in 44 years.

That is simply amazing, especially these days.

But one day, a coach named something other than Hentges will eventually have perfect regular season.

Well, unless ...

Wonder of Hale Hentges wants to be a coach?