The Helias Crusaders are preparing to be ready from the opening kickoff Saturday afternoon.
They're expecting to see the very best from the Father Tolton Trailbazers at Adkins Stadium.
"This is their Super Bowl, they have nothing to lose," Helias coach Tim Rulo said. "If they can come down here and shock everybody by beating us, it could really make their season. We have to be ready to match that intensity at the start of the game Saturday."
Tolton, which has dropped three straight, may bring a 1-4 record into the 4 p.m. contest, but that is a bit deceiving.
"People need to see how competitive their games have been," Rulo said, noting the last three losses for the Trailblazers have been one-score games. "They are getting better and improving. I know they want more wins, we all do, but in the end, I see a team that is improving and has the ability to go on a run this season."
Tolton is averaging just under 21 points per game.
Steven Devine, a junior, is the Tolton quarterback. He is 40-of-79 passing for 727 yards in four games, tossing five touchdowns to go along with five interceptions.
"They were a good passing team last year and that seems to have carried over to this season," Rulo said.
Carson McCarty, a senior, is the main weapon on offense for the Blazers. He has 25 receptions for 460 yards (18.4 avg.) and four touchdowns.
"He made them go last year as well," Rulo said. "He's a dynamic player and they try to find different ways to get him the football."
The run game has struggled for the Trailblazers, who are averaging just 3.5 yards per carry.
"They're a spread team that is trying to find a run-identity," Rulo said. "They look like a team that's still trying to figure out how the best way to run the football."
Defensively, the Trailblazers operate out of multiple fronts. Rulo said he has seen Tolton use a 3-4, a 4-3 and a 4-4 at times this season.
"We've practiced against all kinds of defenses this week because we're just not sure what we're going to see Saturday," Rulo said.
One constant in any defense for the Trailblazers, who are allowing an average of 26 points per game, is senior tackle Luke Campbell (6-foot-2, 330 pounds).
"That is a very large man they have up front," Rulo said.
Helias is coming off a 64-29 loss to Battle last Saturday at Adkins Stadium.
"Obviously, it was not the performance we wanted," Rulo said. "But there were some good things we can take away form it.
"We were winning after the first quarter, some people may forget that, and we were within a score after we got a touchdown to start the third quarter."
Battle, ranked No. 3 in Class 5, was able to pull away in the final 1 1/2 quarters.
"You can't make that many mistakes when you're playing that athletic a team," Rulo said.
The Spartans racked up more than 500 yards of total offense in the contest.
"Nobody felt worse than our defensive coaches after the game, they felt like that one was on their shoulders," Rulo said. "And from the players, there has to be an understanding when we play athletic teams, we can't make a mistake. We have to fill the correct gaps, we have to make sure we are sound making tackles. You can make those mistakes against some teams, but against others, that will cost you a touchdown.
"We just need to be consistent on each play, do it the entire time."
Tolton is currently No. 6 in the Class 2 District 5 standings.
"I know some people are wondering why we're playing these guys," Rulo said. "Hey, they're on the schedule, we're playing them.
"We play Tolton in everything else, it only seems fitting that we play the local Catholic school in football as well. They're only going to get bigger as a school, I think soon they will be Class 3. It may be the start of a rivalry."
Notes: The Crusaders will be without a pair of starting running backs Saturday. Jacob Storms will be out as he goes through concussion protocol, while Kaleb Davis will sit due for precautionary reasons after injuring his leg early in the game against Battle. Jeremiah Heckman, Blake Veltrop, Jake Burnett, Blake Savage, Colden Imhoff and Logan Roling all figure to see extended time in the backfield Saturday for the Crusaders. In good news on the injury front, Dylan Gaines will be back on the field after missing the last month. He will see limited time at linebacker. "We want to make sure he is healthy and ready," Rulo said. Tolton's win this season came in Week 2, a 28-14 decision against St. Charles: Lutheran. Tolton's losses are to South Callaway (38-15), Fulton (29-22), Boonville (35-27) and Carnahan (14-12).
Helias Catholic hosts Tolton Catholic, 4 p.m. Saturday
Updates on Twitter: @tjrackers and @ToltonFootball
Preview Podcast: Helias Crusaders Football Podcast [Father Tolton preview, Sept. 24, 2016]