It isn't the start to the season the Helias Crusaders wanted.
But they're sticking with the process.
"I've watched the films enough, I see what's going on both good and bad," Helias first-year coach Tim Rulo said as the Crusaders (0-3) prepare to host the Hickman Kewpies (0-3) on Saturday night at Adkins Stadium. "We'd like to win the games, who wouldn't? But if you peel back some of the layers, things aren't bad.
"We want to be patient with the process."
Coming off last Friday night's 54-38 home loss to Bishop Althoff of Belleville, Ill., the Crusaders took a couple of days off that were already scheduled.
Monday, it was time to go back to work. Rulo said the Crusaders have had a good week of practice.
"I realize at 0-3, guys can be a little flat or looking around searching for answers, but we came back ready for work," he said.
The Helias defense allowed more than 700 yards to Bishop Althoff. Improving on that side of the football has been an emphasis.
"We are looking for guys to fly around, it's a matter of effort," Rulo said. "You need 11 guys giving great effort on every play. It can't be 10 or nine or eight. We've seen all 11 doing that in practice this week.
"Guys want to see improvement and they've gotten after it."
Even though the final numbers may not show it, Rulo said he saw some good things from the Helias defense last Friday.
"The score did not turn out the way we wanted," he said. "But we got a stop at the start of the game, we got a stop at the start of the second half. The things we wanted to do were working. We showed that we could do it, it's just a matter of consistently doing it.
"We just need to do that for 48 minutes."
The Crusaders will be trying to slow a Kewpie offense that has shown steady improvement this season. Hickman threw for nearly 400 yards in last Friday night's 56-26 loss to Jefferson City.
"You see they've realized how to get their athletes the ball in space," Rulo said.
Carter Nicoli is back as the starting quarterback for the Kewpies. After throwing for less than 200 yards combined in the first two games, the senior doubled his output last Friday, completing 25-of-34 throws.
"He's an athlete playing quarterback," Rulo said. "No down or distance is safe when you have a guy like that playing back there."
Nicoli uses that athleticism to its fullest.
"When he rolls out, he can throw a good ball on the run," Rulo said. "You have to make sure you're containing him."
Brandon Jones (6-foot-5, 235 pounds) was Nicoli's favorite target last week. The University of Illinois commit caught eight passes for 154 yards. Ryan Old (5-11, 180) caught seven passes for 118 yards.
"We have to work on our coverage to try and give them some problems," Rulo said. "Those guys are going to get their catches, but what you have to do is limit what they do after they catch it."
Offensively, the 38 points were the most Helias has scored in a game this season.
"We did some great things, a couple of plays here or there made a difference," Rulo said.
Alex Faddoul was 9-of-20 for 191 yards and three touchdowns in his season debut at quarterback for the Crusaders. He missed the first two games with an ankle injury.
"He handled his reads very well, his poise was great," Rulo said.
Helias will be facing a Hickman defense that has struggled this season. The Kewpies are giving up more than 47 points per game.
The Crusaders will miss Weston Porter, who suffered a broken leg after making a catch late in Friday's game. The senior, who started at quarterback the first two games in place of Faddoul, had three catches for 81 yards and a touchdown.
Porter has been on crutches at practice this week.
"He's going to help get guys organized and motivated," Rulo said.
Rulo said the Crusaders view this as the start of the middle third of the season.
"This is where you are going to be defined," Rulo said. "Are you going to get better or are you going to flatten out?"
Game time is 7 p.m.
III
Porter's absence will also be felt on special teams, where he served as the deep snapper on punts and the holder on kicks. Caleb Albertson will handle the snapping duties, while Curtis Campbell will be the holder. Dalton Weaver will see more time on offense with Porter out. ... Kale Gerstner is questionable to play for the Crusaders. Jeremiah Heckman will start at safety if Gerstner is out. Zach Stiles will miss the game for the Crusaders with a shoulder injury. ... Hickman's other losses came against C.B.C. (66-7) and Lee's Summit (20-7). ... Helias defeated Hickman 48-7 last season in Columbia. ... Helias will be back in action next Friday against Class 5 defending state champion Battle in Columbia.
Helias Catholic hosts Columbia Hickman at 7 p.m. Saturday - Updates on Twitter: @tjrackers and @KewpAthletics.
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