ROELAND PARK, Kan. - It wasn't perfect. But it was good enough to keep the Helias Crusaders perfect so far this season.
Alex Faddoul ran for a pair of second-quarter touchdowns Friday night and the Helias defense came up with six quarterback sacks as the Crusaders blanked the St. James Academy Thunder 21-0 at Bishop Miege High School.
"It wasn't our best effort, but we did what we needed to do to get the win," Helias coach Phil Pitts said.
After the Crusaders had a 17-play, 86-yard drive come up empty in the first quarter, Helias scored twice in a three-minute span in the second period.
The Crusaders recovered a Thunder fumble at the St. James Academy 43. Five plays later, Faddoul scored from six yards out and T.J. Hagenhoff's extra point kick made it 7-0.
Nolan Sachse of Helias returned a punt 51 yards to the St. James Academy 17. Faddoul took it over from a yard out four plays later and it was 14-0 with 5:19 left in the first half.
Helias had a 199-83 edge in total yards in the first two quarters. The Crusaders had five quarterback sacks in the half.
The Crusaders other score came in the final seconds of the third quarter when offensive lineman Dane Clutter recovered a Helias fumble and returned it five yards for a touchdown.
Helias had some familiar woes pop up again Friday night. The Crusaders turned the ball over three times and were flagged for 93 yards in penalties.
"Those are things we've been working on and will continue to work on," Pitts said.
Helias finished with 351 total yards to 155 for St. James Academy.
Helias (6-0, ranked No. 2 in Class 4) will head Friday to Columbia to take on the Rock Bridge Bruins. Game time is 7 p.m
St. James Academy, which is receiving votes in various Class 5 polls in Kansas, is now 3-1.
Check out additional details and stats from this game in our expanded coverage on Sunday.