COLUMBIA - For the second straight week, Helias spoiled Homecoming.
The Crusaders scored touchdowns on all five of their first-half possessions Friday night on their way to a 38-0 victory against the Father Tolton Trailblazers.
"We were able to move the ball effectively with the pass and the run," Helias coach Chris Hentges said. "It was a good night for the offense."
For the Crusader defense, which allowed just seven points last Friday night in a 40-point road win against the Borgia Knights in Washington, it was their third shutout of the season.
"We've got to try to keep that good defense going," Hentges said.
After stopping the Blazers on the opening drive of the game, Helias took over at its own 43, Eight plays later, the Crusaders were in the end zone on a 7-yard run by Brody Mays. Vito Calvaruso booted the first of his five extra points and Helias led 7-0 with 8:08 left in the first quarter.
Tolton responded with its best offensive series of the game. C.J. Campbell had runs of 23 and 21 yards on jet sweeps to help get the Blazers deep into Crusader territory. Tolton was on the brink of getting in the end zone, getting to the Helias 1 before a fumble gave the ball back to the Crusaders on a touchback as it was recovered in the end zone.
The Crusaders then drove 80 yards in 10 plays, with the scoring coming on a 1-yard plunge by quarterback Jake Weaver to make it 14-0 just :08 into the second quarter.
Helias took over at its own 42 on the next series and needed just two plays to score as Weaver hit Griffin Buschjost for a 52-yard touchdown to increase the Crusader lead to 21-0.
The Blazers then went three-and-out on their next offensive series and a short punt gave the Crusaders the ball near midfield. A 22-yard run by Mays moved the Crusaders inside the Blazer 30, then Weaver's 17-yard run got Helias to the 10. Two plays later, Weaver found Buschjost again for a touchdown, this one from 7 yards, and Helias led 28-0 with 3:00 to go before halftime.
Helias got the ball back with a little more than a minute to go in the half after stopping Tolton on downs at midfield. It took the Crusaders four plays to find the end zone, with the score coming on a 3-yard pass from Weaver to Dylan Weaver with :14 left on the clock as Helias took a 35-0 advantage into intermission.
The Crusaders finished with 275 yards of offense in the first half. Mays had 13 carries for 103 yards to lead the run game.
"We missed him the past couple of weeks, it was great to get him back out on the field," Hentges said.
Jake Weaver was 10-of-13 passing for 143 yards and three touchdowns in the half.
The Blazers had 107 total yards on 29 plays in the first two quarters.
With the running clock to start the second half, the Crusader starters were mostly on the bench in the final two quarters.
Helias got its final points on the final play of the third quarter when Calvaruso drilled a 22-yard field goal to make it 38-0.
The Crusaders, who did not punt in the game, finished with 223 rushing yards to go along with 174 in the air. The Blazers had 111 yards passing and 58 yards rushing.
Tolton (0-6) will host St. Mary's next Friday night.
Helias (5-1, No. 9 in the Class 4 Missouri Media Rankings) will wrap up a three-game road trip next Friday night at Monroe City. The Panthers (5-1) defeated South Shelby 38-12 on Friday night.