Running between the tackles against the Helias Crusaders is probably not the best idea.
But that's what the Sullivan Eagles do offensively. So they tried it Friday night at Adkins Stadium.
Maybe they should have gone with Plan B.
"You can be happy that we took care of business," Helias head coach Phil Pitts said after the Crusaders celebrated Homecoming by downing the Eagles 56-3. "Our kids are so prepared and so ready after playing the schedule we've played this season."
The Crusaders limited the Eagles to 71 yards on 32 carries. Toss out scrambles of 39 yards by the Sullivan punter and 18 yards by the quarterback on the final play of the first half and those numbers drop to a paltry 14 yards on 30 attempts.
"We played a great brand of interior defense," Pitts said. "That's been something that's been a strength all season and we thought would be tonight."
Meanwhile, the Crusader run game looked as good as it has all season. After forcing a punt on Sullivan's first series, Helias took over at the Eagle 45.
On first down, Jacob Storms went those 45 yards for a touchdown. The first of eight extra points by Sam Heckart made it 7-0.
That was the first of five first-half touchdowns in six possessions for Helias. The other ended in a missed field goal.
A seven-play, 53-yard drive was capped by a 10-yard pass from Alex Faddoul to Weston Porter to make it 14-0. After that missed field goal, Helias went 40 yards in three plays, with the touchdown coming on a 12-yard pass from Faddoul to Hale Hentges.
It was the 26th touchdown reception of Hentges' career to tie him with his uncle, Mike Hentges, for the most in Helias history.
A 16-yard touchdown run by Clayton Winter made it 28-0 early in the second quarter. Helias capped its first half output on a 28-yard scoring pass from Faddoul to Kale Gerstner.
Sullivan got its points late in the second quarter on a 30-yard field goal by Jake Lochner. Lochner, who booted both of his kickoffs out of the end zone in the game, had a 56-yard field goal earlier this season.
Helias punted just once in the game, that coming on the first possession of the second half. Winter ran for touchdowns on Helias' next two possessions - from 16 and 5 yards - and it was 49-3 heading into the final period.
The final touchdown for the Crusaders came on an 8-yard pass from Porter to T.J. Hagenhoff with 9:29 to play.
Helias finished with 447 total yards. The Crusaders rushed for 253 yards on 26 carries, led by Storm's 87 yards on six attempts. Helias was 11-of-16 passing for 194 yards.
Sullivan (5-4) had four first downs, all in the first half. Two of those came on penalties. The Eagles were 1-of-4 through the air for 2 yards.
Helias (8-1) is the winner of the Class 4 District 7 championship and will host any game it is in through the quarterfinals. The Crusaders will open district play against eighth-seeded Kirksville next week. That game, which will serve as Helias' Senior Day, is likely to be at 1 p.m. Saturday.