The even-numbered weeks have been kind to the Helias Crusaders this season.
The odd ones? Not so much.
It's Week 7 of the season and Helias is looking to break that pattern and get its first winning streak of the season tonight when the Crusaders (3-3) head to Columbia to take on the Rock Bridge Bruins (1-5).
"That's what we're trying to do," Helias coach Tim Rulo said. "I know the kids are frustrated. But to have success playing football, you need to be consistent and play disciplined football when you play quality teams."
Helias has had easier games in Weeks 2, 4 and 6, when the Crusaders have outscored their opponents 161-20.
But in weeks 1, 3 and 5, Helias has been outscored 134-63 against Hannibal (No. 2 in Class 4), Bishop Althoff (No. 1 in Class 4 in Illinois) and Battle (No. 2 in Class 5).
And despite its record, Rulo said Rock Bridge is definitely among the better teams Helias will face this season.
"They are one of the best 1-5 teams in the state, I have no doubt," he said. "It's just a matter of that elusive consistency. They have a lot of speed, they have a lot of size, they have a lot of great athletes.
"There are times they look really good and then there are times they struggle."
The schedule has a lot to do with Rock Bridge's sub-.500 performance. Four of the Bruins' losses have come to Rockhurst (No. 4 in Class 6), Battle (No. 2 in Class 5), Lee's Summit (No. 7 in Class 6) and Jefferson City (No. 5 in Class 6).
"You look at who they've played, that would be a tough stretch for any team," Rulo said.
The Bruins, who lost 61-21 to the Jays last Friday night at Adkins Stadium, are led by first-year head coach Joe Collier. Collier, a longtime assistant at Rock Bridge, took over when A.J. Ofodile joined Barry Odom's staff at Missouri in the offseason.
Rulo said the Bruins don't look much different than they have in recent seasons.
"It looks like they are doing a lot of the same stuff," Rulo said.
Offensively, the Bruins have a potent run game.
Nathaniel Peat (5-7, 165) tops the Bruins with 541 yards rushing (6.2 avg.). Just a sophomore, Peat has already received a a scholarship offer from Missouri.
Kian Pilot (5-9 , 175) is next at 440 yards (6.0 avg.). The senior has a team-high five touchdowns.
"They have some great running backs," Rulo said.
Malik Gleason (5-10, 160) has been dynamic when he has gotten the football this season for the Bruins. The senior returned a kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown last week.
"He's a very talented kid, very athletic," Rulo said.
The Bruins may have junior quarterback Trevor Twehous back in the starting lineup after he missed the past few games with an injury.
Defensively, the Bruins still operate out of a 3-5-3 formation.
"You don't see the odd-stack defense at the Class 6 level very often, but a lot of small schools run it," Rulo said. "I've coached against it a lot, I know our offense can be successful against the odd-stack.
"They've stayed true to that all year, no matter who they've played and what offense they've seen."
But the Crusaders still have to run their offensse correctly to be successful, no matter what defensive formation it is facing.
"We have to execute," Rulo said. "If we're not blocking guys, it doesn't matter what we run."
The offensive executing was good last Saturday as Helias racked up 415 total yards in a 53-0 victory against Father Tolton.
"There were things we could have done better, but after the first series, we played fine," Rulo said. "We asserted ourselves and took over the game."
On the defensive side, Helias held Tolton to a minus-8 yards of rushing.
"We just need to see improvement each and every week," Rulo said.
That run defense will be challenged tonight by the Bruins.
"We have another opportunity to play a quality team that is athletic," Rulo said. "It's another test for us."
Game time is 7 p.m.
III
Notes: On the injury front, running backs Jacob Storms and Caleb Davis will return to the starting lineup after missing last week with injuries. In addition, running back/linebacker Dylan Gaines will be back full-time after having his minutes limited against Tolton. Starting kicker Sam Heckart will miss his second straight game for the Crusaders. Vito Calvaruso, a freshman, will handle the kicking duties. Calvaruso converted 4-of-5 in PATs in a game against Kansas City Southeast earlier this season. Tonight's game is the last of four straight against Columbia schools for Helias. The Crusaders have defeated Hickman and Tolton, sandwiched around the loss to Battle. "Three of those schools are a lot bigger than we are and if we could win three of the four games, it would look very good on our resume," Rulo said. Tonight's game is Rock Bridge's Homecoming. Helias defeated Rock Bridge 10-7 last season at Adkins Stadium. The Crusaders have won three straight in the series, with the last loss being a 35-6 decision during the 2012 season in Columbia.
Helias Catholic at Rock Bridge
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