The Helias Crusaders have gotten off to a handful of slow starts this season.
But they seem to end with a rush.
"We haven't started well and then we hit our stride," Helias coach Phil Pitts said as the Crusaders (4-0, ranked No. 2 in Class 4) prepare for Saturday night's game against the Battle Spartans (2-2) at Adkins Stadium. "That's good to see, but we need to work on getting off to better starts."
Pitts isn't talking about the defense in regard to slow starts. Helias has given up just nine first-half points this season and the first team has allowed just one touchdown through four games.
"We run to the football and don't give up big plays," Pitts said. "When you can make a team have to drive on you, they are likely to make a mistake somewhere and the drive will stall."
And those nine-first half points have all come because of blocked punts for a safety and a touchdown.
"The defense has been ready from the get-go," Pitts said. "It's a matter of our offense and special teams getting up to speed at the start of games."
Helias was up to speed with its running game last Friday at Hickman. The Crusaders, led by Malik Davis' 280 yards, ran for 414 yards against the Kewpies.
"They dared us to run with our backs," Pitts said. "They took away our quarterback run, they took away our pass game and they made us beat them with the run.
"That was great to see because if we can add that third facet to our offense, the inside run game with our tailbacks, that will make us all the more tough to stop."
It all starts up front with the blocks of the linemen, who have led the Crusaders to an average of nearly seven yards per carry.
"The offensive line did a great job in front of the backs," Pitts said. "It makes them feel like they are physically dominating a football game."
Battle, a Class 5 team, will present several challenges to Helias, Pitts said.
"That program has done a great job developing in just a few short years," Pitts said.
The Spartans, who operate out of multiple formations on offense, are averaging 34 points per game.
"They might be the best offense we've seen so far," Pitts said. "They run the ball really well, it's going to be a test for our run defense this week."
Running backs Nash Sutherlin and Marshall Willingham provide a potent 1-2 punch in the backfield.
"Sutherlin is their home-run hitter who likes to get to the edge and pick up the big yards," Pitts said. "Willingham is the one who gets the tough yards between the tackles and runs very hard.
"We're going to have to be sound in our rush defense, I'm excited to see how we do against them. We're going to have to be true to our reads, run to the football and tackle well."
But you can't ignore the passing attack of the Spartans, who throw the football on about 40 percent of their plays on offense.
"They don't have a complicated pass game, but they have athletes out there who can go get the football and make big plays," Pitts said.
Brevinn Tyler, a sophomore, is in his second season as the starter for Battle at quarterback.
"Playing quarterback at the varsity level is a challenge and he's getting better and better," Pitts said.
Defensively, the Spartans have allowed 34 points per game out of a 4-3 front. They struggled in their first two games, but have improved in recent weeks, holding Rock Bridge to 25 points and shutting out Excelsior Springs last week.
"It will be a good test for us in what could be the best team we've played so far," Pitts said. "Their guys up front really run to the football and finish the play when they get there."
Helias will be playing a Columbia school back-to-back weeks, with a contest against Rock Bridge looming as well.
"We want to be the best team in the area, it's important to us," Pitts said. "We really want to win this game."
The regular season will be more than halfway done at the end of Saturday night's contest.
"This is going quickly and we need to focus even more because before you know it, it could be gone," Pitts said.
Game time is 7 p.m.
Notes: Cole Rice, the starting left guard for Helias, will miss the next few weeks after suffering injuries in an automobile accident earlier this week. Blake Wilbers will shift from center to guard, with Jacob Wolken taking over at center. "We hope to get Cole back as soon as possible, but Jacob has gotten a lot of reps with the starters this season and I think the line will be fine. Jacob is ready to go," Pitts said. ... The Helias defense has 18 sacks through four games. ... Helias will hit the road again next Friday, playing St. James Academy (Kan.). The game will be played at Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park, Kan.
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