The Helias Crusaders know where their focus will be on defense tonight -- A.J. Raines.
The Timberland senior is a do-it-all quarterback as the fourth-seeded Wolves (8-3) come to Ray Hentges Stadium to take on the second-seeded Crusaders (9-2) in the Class 5 District 4 championship game.
“The offense runs through their quarterback,” Hentges said.
The numbers prove that. Raines, a 6-foot, 180-pound senior, is 185-of-282 passing (65.6 percent) for just under 2,600 yards to lead the St. Louis area. He has thrown for 30 touchdowns with just four interceptions.
Raines is also Timberland’s leading rusher, totaling 877 yards (5.7 avg.) and 13 touchdowns.
“The defense will have its hands full, we need to make sure we are strong in our tackles,” Hentges, who compared Raines to former Helias quarterback Jake Weaver with his pass-run ability, said.
“Obviously we want him to hand that ball off.”
Raines also is Timberland’s punter and kicker. He’s hit two field goals and 33 extra-points while averaging 40.2 yards per punt. Hentges said Raines is also seeing time at safety in recent weeks.
“He really doesn’t leave the field,” Hentges said.
August “Tank” Billings is Raines’ top receiver, totaling 58 catches for 840 yards and 10 touchdowns. The senior also has run for 202 yards (5.2 avg.) and four scores. Creighton Ervin has 42 catches for 780 yards (18.6 avg.) with six touchdowns, while Travis Reeves had 40 catches for 412 yards (10.3 avg.) and nine touchdowns.
Jaden Morrison is second on the team with 107 carries for 564 yards (5.3) with five rushing touchdowns.
“They’ve had a lot of big plays this year, it’s an explosive offense with very capable receivers and good running backs that compliment that very talented quarterback,” Hentges said.
The Wolves average 41 points per game.
Defensively, Timberland is allowing 28.3 points to its opponents out of multiple fronts this season.
“It’s a strong defense, an athletic defense,” Hentges said.
The Wolves have been a 4-2-5 base defense, but have also played a 3-3 stack, some 3-4 and some five-man fronts.
“They’ve shown a lot of different things this season, we’ve prepared for all of them, but we’ve seen all of them at one time or another this season,” Hentges said. “Three teams have run a 3-3, three teams have run a 3-4, three teams have run a four-front, whatever they do is not going to be a big surprise.
“It just puts you in a pinch practice-wise because you want to work against what you feel you’re going to get.”
Ethan Wasson (6-0, 198 sr.) leads Timberland with 60 tackles from his linebacker spot. Nathan Davidson (5-11, 200 sr.) has six sacks to lead the Wolves, while Wasson and Reeves each have four. Timberland has totaled seven interceptions.
Timberland advanced to the title game with a 21-0 victory last Friday against top-seeded Holt. It was a measure of revenge after Holt defeated Timberland 42-35 in the regular-season finale.
“We thought in the way they played in their first game, anytime you only beat a team by one touchdown and you have to turn around and play that team two weeks later, Timberland had a shot,” Hentges said. “They really dominated the game, they played really, really well.”
It was the first shutout of the season for the Timberland defense.
“They took away Holt’s quarterback, he was the key to their offense,” Hentges said. “The defense was designed to make other players beat them and they bottled them up.
“You thought it might be a track meet again. But Timberland showed their defensive ability in shutting them out.”
One of the Helias’ strengths offensively is its diversity.
“We’re multiple enough offensively, we don’t hang our hat on one player,” Hentges said. “We have seven players that can catch the football, we have multiple running backs, our quarterback is a good thrower and a capable runner. We pride ourselves on being balanced with enough tools in the tool box that we can find something that will work.
“Defense’s want to take away your first one or two options and make you beat them with your third or fourth option. We’re hoping we’re ready to take what they are giving us.”
It’s Helias’ second season in Class 5 and its second district title game appearance. The Crusaders lost 34-6 to Holt last year at Wentzville.
“It was a goal for us to get back to this game,” Hentges said. “We’ve got an opportunity to win one.”
Game time is 7 p.m.
Notes: Helias will be without starting center Mason Kliethermes, who suffered a broken wrist in the game against Battle. Will Kemna (6-4, 250 soph.) will get the start tonight. “We’re confident in Will, he had a really good JV season and a good week of pracitce, it’s his time to step up,” Hentges said. Helias’ other four starters on the offensive line from Week 1 — guards Jack Klebba and Alex Cook, and Jace West and Trevor Kolb at tackles — are healthy. … Maddox Fisher led Helias with 15 tackles in its 45-14 win against Battle last Friday night in the district semifinal. Nate Roark had 12, while Logan Montoya totaled 11. … It will be a family reunion tonight as Raines is the son of Hentges’ first cousin, former Helias Lady Crusader basketball player Mary Ellen Distler. “It will be fun, I know Mary Ellen and the whole Distler family is excited,” Hentges said. “There’s a lot of family here in town and she’s excited the family will get a chance to see him play. It will be a nice for him to play in a stadium named for his great uncle in front of a large crowd of family.” … Helias and Timberland have two common opponents in Liberty: Wentzville and Vianney. Helias won those two games by a combined score of 114-26, while Timberland swept the games by a combined 121-27. … The Helias-Timberland winner advances to next week’s quarterfinal against the District 3 winner, either Francis Howell (10-0) or Fort Zumwalt North (8-4). Francis Howell defeated Fort Zumwalt North 45-0 in Week 1 this season. With a win, Helias would host second-ranked Francis Howell or play at Fort Zumwalt North. Timberland would host the quarterfinal with a victory. … Helias and Timberland both spent time in the Class 5 state rankings this season, but neither was in the final regular-season poll. … Timberland’s eight wins match the program’s best total in the last 12 years. The Wolves finished 8-3 in 2018. … In addition to the first meeting against Holt, Timberland’s other losses this season are to Troy-Buchanan (44-12) in Week 6 and Francis Howell (49-14) in Week 7. … Helias is one of three Central Missouri Activities Conference teams playing for a district title tonight. Jefferson City (6-4), the No. 2 seed, will play at top-seeded Hannibal (8-2) for the Class 4 District 5 title. Rock Bridge (9-2), the No. 2 seed, will host fifth-seeded De Smet (6-5) for the Class 6 District 2 title in Columbia.