Helias to open district play vs. Kirksville

Hale Hentges of the Helias Crusaders tries to break away from the tackle attempt of Hannibal's Caleb Bieniek during last Saturday night's game at Adkins Stadium.
Hale Hentges of the Helias Crusaders tries to break away from the tackle attempt of Hannibal's Caleb Bieniek during last Saturday night's game at Adkins Stadium.

The Helias Crusaders walked off the field Saturday night figuring they'd earned the No. 1 seed in Class 4 District 6.

They woke up Sunday morning to find, thanks to a 5-1 coaches vote in an appeal, they hadn't.

Starting tonight at Adkins Stadium, the Crusaders are ready to go out and prove it again.

"The schools in the (North Central Missouri Conference) decided to stay with Hannibal," Helias head coach Phil Pitts said as the Crusaders (5-3, rank No. 5 in Class 5) open district play at 7 p.m. against the Kirksville Tigers (3-6).