The Helias Crusaders have had a little more than a week to think about it.
Now they're hungry to do something about it.
"We're ready to get back on the field and show people that last Thursday wasn't the team that we are or that we want to be," Helias coach Phil Pitts said as the Crusaders (7-1, ranked No. 2 in Class 4) prepare to take on the Sullivan Eagles (5-3) at 7 p.m. today in a Homecoming contest at Adkins Stadium. "We're going to get out there and be ready to play a complete football game."
The Crusaders are coming off their lone loss, a 40-10 defeat at the hands of the Rockhurst Hawklets. Rockhurst scored on its first two possessions to put Helias in a hole it could never climb out from.
"Rockhurst came out and got off to a great start with their game plan," Pitts said. "They executed and we weren't able to answer them."
But they may have learned something from playing them.
"You never want to say losing is a good thing," Pitts said. "But you can learn from losing, you can learn from negatives. As long as you handle it the correct way, I don't want to say it was a good thing, but it can be a positive.
"It was a quality opponent we faced and games like that are important as we move forward."
Sullivan comes into the game on a two-game winning streak and has won four of its last five contests.
"They don't expect to lose," Pitts said. "We're going to see a team full of players that like to compete."
Sullivan, a member of the Four Rivers Conference, has recently been a regular participant in the Class 4 state playoffs.
"The program has some tradition," Pitts said. "A couple of years ago when we lost to Webb City in the championship game, Sullivan probably gave them a better game in the quarterfinals."
The Eagles are averaging 30 points per game behind a run-first offense. And a run-second and run-third offense.
"It's going to be run, run and run some more," Pitts said. "They run to set up the run."
Sullivan operates out of the double-wing formation, something Helias has seen in recent years in games against Harrisonville and Sedalia Smith-Cotton.
"It's nice to get a chance to prepare for something different because that preparation can do nothing but make us better for the playoffs," Pitts said.
Improved preparation for an opponent is something else Helias learned from facing Rockhurst.
"We have to simulate the opponent better in practice and I think we've done that this week," Pitts said. "We want to show the other side of the ball how good the opponent is going to be and I think we've done that."
Five different Eagles have rushed for more than 100 yards this season. Troy Creek, a senior, leads the way with 755 yards (7.1 avg.) and 14 touchdowns. Zach Holtz is next with 454 yards (7.0 avg.) and five scores.
"They run a lot of misdirection, they pull a lot of linemen," Pitts said. "We're going to have to be ready for that."
Sullivan quarterback Michael McDermott has thrown just 48 passes this season, completing 17 for 257 yards. He has thrown for three touchdowns and also has three interceptions.
"He probably does more lead blocking than he does passing," Pitts said. "There really isn't a passing down for them."
McDermott is third on the team in rushing with 311 yards (4.1 avg.). He has scored six touchdowns.
Brent Davis, a tight end, is his favorite target with 11 receptions for 172 yards and two scores.
Defensively, the Eagles are giving up an average of 18 points per game.
Dylan Harman leads Sullivan with 121 tackles, including 63 solo stops. Creek is next with 81, while McDermott is third with 77.
"They're not overly big, but they play hard and get after you," Pitts said. "We are going to have to be physical on every play."
Pitts doesn't believe the Crusaders will get caught looking past the Eagles.
"You get so few opportunities to play a football game and we know Sullivan is going to fight and scratch to win this game," he said. "It's something as a coach you are concerned about, but they are going to come in here and play hard.
"We know in the past we've been the underdog and won some games and we are going to be ready for Sullivan."
The Crusader players have enjoyed the Homecoming activities this week, but not to the point of distraction.
"The football game is the focal point of Homecoming week and I think we're going to be ready to do our best (tonight)," Pitts said.
Notes: Helias came out of the Rockhurst game healthy, Pitts said. ... The Crusaders have gotten a turnover in 34 straight games. ... Helias had two quarterback sacks against Rockhurst to run their total to 36 for the season. That breaks the school record of 35 set in the 2007 season. ... Win or lose tonight, Helias has already clinched the Class 4 District 7 championship and will host any district game it is in. Helias' opening opponent has not been decided between Kirksville, Wentzville: Liberty or Marshall.
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