Drew Miller had all week to think about it, Trey Bexten just had the 20-minute halftime.
They both ended by adding their names into the Helias football record book.
Miller, who set Helias’ single-game passing yardage record earlier this season, put his name a couple of more times in the school record book Friday night in the Crusaders’ 55-13 victory against the Liberty: Wentzville Eagles in the first round of Class 5 District 4 play at Ray Hentges Stadium.
“Tonight was really special,” Miller said.
Miller found out Monday during a lift session from Helias coach Chris Hentges he was closing in on the Helias season completion record.
“I had no idea,” Miller said. “I knew I was getting close on the yards, but I had no idea on the completions.
“I told coach (Zach) Rockers yesterday I was a little anxious all week.”
The completions record fell on the first play on Helias’ second possession on a 13-yard completion to Lucas Bloomer. It was Miller’s 137th of the season, one better than the mark set by Wyatt Porter in 2012.
Miller knew he was closing in on the season-yardage record of 1,928 set by Rockers, now Helias’ offensive coordinator, in 2010. The senior needed just more than 100 yards to get the mark. He got that record midway through the second quarter on an 11-yard pass to Bexten.
“I just wanted to let the game play out, forget about it,” Miller said. “When they announced it, I remembered. It was a nice moment.”
That reception was Bexten’s fifth of the game. The senior added three more later in the second quarter to have eight as the Crusaders headed into halftime holding a 41-0 lead.
On the walk to the locker room, Helias assistant coach Adam McMorris told Bexten he was close to the school record of 10 catches in a game.
“He told me I was three away and they were going to keep me in the game,” Bexten said. “I said, ‘Sounds good.’”
Miller’s night was done after going 15-of-20 for 188 yards and two touchdowns. He has thrown 21 touchdowns and just four interceptions.
“That’s a really good regular season,” Hentges said.
Helias got the ball to start the second half and the starting offense went back on the field, minus Miller, as Sam Wyrick came in at quarterback.
“We wanted to give Sam a series with the No. 1s,” Hentges said.
Bexten caught a 16-yard pass from Wyrick on first down, then had a 12-yard reception three plays later to tie the record of 10 shared by Andrew Stiles in 2011 in a game against Bolivar and Jake Warren in 2019 in a contest against Rock Bridge.
“Sam came in and sealed the deal,” Bexten said.
The record came two plays later. Wyrick threw a short pass to Bexten, who barrelled through a handful of Eagles on his way for a 39-yard touchdown.
“I decided I was going to take it to the house,” Bexten said.
Hentges said Bexten’s record came because of the defense the Eagles were playing. Liberty: Wentzville had an outside linebacker creeping up to the line of scrimmage before the snap and when that happens, it’s an automatic call for the Crusaders to change the play to a screen pass.
“A lot of those bubble screens were us checking out of a run play into a pass play because of the look the defense gave us,” Hentges said.
Wyrick’s first pass to Bexten established a team record as well. The 16-yard catch pushed Helias’ passing yardage to 204 in the game to give Helias 2,179 passing yards for the season. That eclipsed the mark of 2,169 set in 2012.
Helias came close to tying another record. Nic Calvaruso kicked a pair of field goals Friday night to give him 10 on the season, one short of his brother Vito’s record of 11 set in 2019.
Calvaruso had hit 10 of his 12 field-goal attempts this season, along with going 51-of-54 on extra points.
“That is outstanding, especially for a freshman,” Hentges said.
Helias school records are through the first 10 games of the season.
Calvaruso’s 26-yard field goal on Helias’ first possession gave Helias a 3-0 lead. Mason French added a 7-yard touchdown run with 2:00 left in the first quarter to give the Crusaders a 10-0 lead.
Helias blew the game open with a 31-point second quarter.
Alex Marberry scored the first of his two rushing touchdowns in the quarter, taking it over from a yard out. Midway through the quarter, Calvaruso booted a 32-yard field goal to give the Crusaders a 20-0 advantage.
Marberry then scored on a 6-yard run with 2:34 before halftime before the Crusaders scored twice in a span of 15 seconds in the final minute.
Sam Lopez of the Crusaders returned an interception 57 yards to the Eagle 23. Miller then connected with Trey Rice for a touchdown on first down to make it 34-0.
The Eagles fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Cole Morehead of the Crusaders recovered at the Liberty: Wentzville 25. On the next play, Miller and Bexten combined for a 25-yard touchdown and it was 41-0.
Helias finished the half with 296 total yards and 13 first downs. Liberty: Wentzville totaled 139 yards -- 85 of which came on three plays -- on six first downs.
“Our No. 1 defense had a shutout, that’s great,” Hentges said.
Bexten’s touchdown from Wyrick made it 48-0.
The Eagles (3-7) got on the board on a 13-yard pass from Noah Kuehner to Matt Manocchio with 3:40 left in the third quarter, then made it 48-13 on a 2-yard run by Kuehner midway through the fourth quarter.
Helias got its final touchdown in the final minute of the game on a 62-yard run by CJ Howell.
Helias (8-2) will host Battle (3-7) in a district semifinal at 7 p.m. Friday. The Crusaders defeated the Spartans 58-16 in a Central Missouri Activities Conference game in Week 3 at Ray Hentges Stadium. Helias scored 48 unanswered points in the second half after trailing 16-10 at the break.
“We weren’t very efficient in the first half,” Miller said.
Miller and the Crusaders are expecting a tougher game from the Spartans, who advanced with a 34-14 victory Friday night against Capital City at Adkins Stadium.
“They have definitely improved throughout the season,” Miller said.
In the other District 4 game Friday, Timberland defeated Washington 42-19. Timberland, the No. 4 seed, will play top-seeded Holt in the other semifinal. Holt received a first-round bye in the seven-team district.