The Helias Crusaders came back to work.
Coming off its first win of the season - a 39-6 win last Saturday against Hickman - Helias didn't spend a lot of time celebrating.
"We talked in our meetings about not letting complacency step in because we did get the victory," Helias coach Tim Rulo said. "The players understood. We talked about what made us successful last week and how we needed to replicate that.
"We played well, we came out with great energy, the focus was there at the start of the game. Guys were ready to have fun and just play football."
That process continues tonight when Helias travels to Columbia to take on defending Class 5 state champion Battle.
"Battle is a quality program and it's going to be another test for us," Rulo said.
Battle, ranked No. 2 in Class 5, is 4-0 on the season after last Friday night's 38-7 win at Excelsior Springs. The Spartans are averaging just more than 40 points per game this season with a basic attack.
"They stick with what they do, they run it and take some shots down the field," Rulo said.
Last year, Helias defeated Battle 29-14 at Adkins Stadium to fall to 2-3 on the season. But the Spartans would only lose once more the rest of the way on their way to a state title.
One of the big reasons for Battle's run to the championship was the improved play of quarterback Brevinn Tyler, who is in his third year as a starter for the Spartans
"He's calm back there," Rulo said. "When you watch last year's game against Helias, he was scrambling around a lot. But now, he looks more confident in himself and what he can do.
"They've taken the confidence they got from winning the state title last season and carried it over to this season."
Tyler has thrown for 623 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. He's also rushed for more than 250 yards while scoring five touchdowns.
Tyler's favorite receiving targets are Chyrome Thorpe (5-foot-10, 170 pounds) and Jaevan McQuitty (6-2, 190), both of whom have double-digit reception totals this year. McQuitty missed the Excelsior Springs game with an injury.
It's a veteran group defensively for Battle, with 10 of the 11 starters being seniors. The Spartans are allowing 15 points per game.
"They have all kinds of size and athletic ability on defense," Rulo said. "We feel our offense can force them into playing assignment football, maybe slow them down a little bit as they go through their reads."
One of the keys for the Crusaders tonight is to win the turnover battle with the Spartans.
"When you're playing a team like Battle, you have to have the football more than they do," Rulo said.
The Helias offense had its best point output of the season against Hickman. And it could have been more.
"I think we left some points out on the field," Rulo said. "There's a lot more we can do."
Part of the improvement can be attributed to becoming more familiar with the new veer offense.
"They are more comfortable," Rulo said. "And as they get more comfortable, things are going to improve and we're going to look a lot better."
And that goes for the defensive side as well.
"We need to get comfortable with our keys and reads and play great football," Rulo said.
And that may pay off with win No. 2.
"Sometimes, you can get used to winning and you can forget how much effort and time it takes to get that done," Rulo said. "A win like last week can remind you of that.
"We were playing so tight the first couple of weeks,. We had some fun and played some great football against Hickman. All the hard work came to fruition. Now we want that to continue as we push into the season."
Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
III
This is the first time Helias has played at Battle, which will stay on the Crusaders' schedule. ... Kale Gerstner has been practicing with the first-team defense this week and the senior should return to the secondary, Rulo said. Nolan Sachse, another senior, is also getting healthier and has been getting some reps in practice on offense in addition to his defensive duties in the secondary. ... Helias will return home Saturday, Sept. 26, to face Rock Bridge, the last of three Columbia schools on the schedule. The start time for that game has been moved up to 4 p.m.
Helias at Columbia Battle - Updates on Twitter: @tjrackers and @BattleAthletics
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