Heading into the season, Tim Rulo pointed to this week.
Rulo, entering in his first year as head coach at Helias, thought Week 8 would be a good litmus test for the Crusaders. They would have had seven games to show what they could do in a new offensive scheme and an adjusted defense against a quality opponent.
"This is the game I circled," Rulo said as Helias heads to Kansas City to take on the Rockhurst Hawklets tonight. "We're excited about the opportunity to play against a great program.
"They have a tradition of success, a style of football that relies on discipline and hard work."
The Hawklets enter the 7:30 p.m. contest with a uncharacteristic record of 3-4. But Rulo and the Crusaders aren't reading anything into the sub-.500 mark.
"I've watched Rockhurst games for almost a decade and it's like they are almost clones," Rulo said. "They don't look different, it's just different jersey numbers and different last names.
"It's a quality program that is well-coached. They do all the little things well."
Offensively, the Hawklets are averaging 28 points per game. Rockhurst is led by senior running back A.J. Taylor.
"He can do so much with the ball in his hands," Rulo said. "You have to know where he is at all times. The offense goes through him."
Taylor (5-foot-11, 190 pounds), who has committed to play at Wisconsin, has had several big games this season, including a 321-yard performance against Blue Springs. The Hawklets like to send the senior between the tackles as much as possible.
"He's a guy you know they are going to feed it to 20-25 times per game," Rulo said. "There's one guy to focus on, you have a pretty good idea of what they're going to run, you just have to stop it. You have to make them earn what they get and extend their drives as much as possible."
Helias did a good job defensively last week against Rock Bridge standout Nick Collins. The senior did rush for 124 yards, but half of those came on one carry.
"We were really swarming and flying to the football," Rulo said.
Defensively, the Hawklets are allowing 24 points per contest.
"They're big, they're physical, they get after it," Rulo said. "They are going to show you what you need to get better at."
Helias (2-5) is coming off a 10-7 win last Saturday against Rock Bridge.
"I was so happy, it was the culmination of a lot of the things we talk about - tenacity, hard work," Rulo said. "There was a lot of great energy."
The Crusaders scored the first two times they had the ball and made those points stand up.
"We wish we would have scored more points, but in the end, you're always happy with a win," Rulo said.
Helias will be without starting quarterback Alex Faddoul tonight. The senior will sit out due to injuries.
Curtis Campbell, a junior who has taken some snaps this season, will get the start. Chandler Luebbert, another junior, will also see time at quarterback.
"Curtis is very steady," Rulo said. "Chandler is the type of player who can make things happen."
Limiting turnovers will be a key tonight for the Crusaders.
"You have to take care of the football and you can't give them any short fields," Rulo said.
Alex Werner, who left the Rock Bridge game with an injury, will only play in the defensive secondary tonight for the Crusaders. The status of starting running back/linebacker Jake Burnett, also injured against the Bruins, will be a game-time decision, Rulo said.
Notes: Rockhurst defeated Helias 40-10 last season at Adkins Stadium. This is the first time the Crusaders and Hawklets will meet in a varsity contest in Kansas City. ... Helias and Rockhurst have two common opponents, both defeating Rock Bridge and Hickman. Rockhurst beat Rock Bridge 26-7 in the season opener at Faurot Field. Helias beat Hickman 39-6 in Week 5, while Rockhurst was a 50-0 winner against the Kewpies last Friday in Columbia. ... Rockhurst's other win was a 39-21 victory against Blue Springs. The Hawklets have lost to Webb City 49-20), Bentonville, Ark. (24-13), Har-Ber (Springdale, Ark.) 49-21 and Blue Springs South (37-27). ... Helias is currently the No. 4 seed in Class 4 District 7, just behind Warrenton. Warrenton (4-3) will close the regular season against Orchard Farm (3-4) and Fort Zumwalt East (3-4). The Crusaders will wrap up the regular seaspon next Friday at Sullivan (4-3).
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