ST. LOUIS - You can't coach speed, you've got it or you don't.
The Cardinal Ritter Lions have got it.
The Lions scored in their first six possessions Friday night on their way to a 61-35 win against the Helias Crusaders.
"We obviously had a problem stopping them, especially in the first half," Helias coach Chris Hentges said.
It looked like the game was going to be an offensive shootout as both teams scored in the opening minute.
After the opening kickoff, Helias started on its own 30. On first down, Blake Veltrop took a pitch from quarterback Jake Weaver around the left side 70 yards for a touchdown. Vito Calvaruso booted the first of his five extra points and Helias led 7-0 at the 11:40 mark.
Calvaruso booted the ensuing kickoff into the end zone for a touchback, giving Cardinal Ritter the ball at its own 20.
On the next play, Lions quarterback Mekhi Hagens hit a wide-open Cameron Coleman down the left sideline and he streaked into the end zone for the touchdown. The PAT tied it at 7 just :34 into the game.
Hagens threw two more touchdown passes in the first quarter - 42 yards to Ohio State recruit Jameson Williams and 29 yards to Keavion Long. Hagens also ran for a 31-yard touchdown as the Lions led the Crusaders 28-7 after one quarter.
A 26-yard pass from Hagens to Kailen Smith and a 49-yard toss to Williams made it 41-7 midway through the second quarter.