The Helias Crusaders have a plan heading into tonight's home game against Althoff.
"In a game like this, when you're going to play a team like Althoff, you have to have a good plan," Helias coach Tim Rulo said.
Althoff has scored 50 or more points in the last two meetings with Helias. One key to making sure that doesn't happen again in tonight's clash of Crusaders at Ray Hentges Stadium is holding the ball on offense. Because if the high-powered Althoff offense doesn't have the ball, it makes it difficult for them to score.
"They're really talented, they're really athletic, maybe the most athletic team we will play all year," Rulo said. "They've got something going with that program."
Althoff, from Belleville, Ill., is 1-0 after blanking Collinsville 42-0 in its season opener last week. The team is ranked No. 2 in the first Illinois Class 4A poll of the season.
"They got off to a bit of a slow start last week, but after that, they were rolling," Rulo said.
Richard Cosey (5-foot-9, 175-pound jr.) led the attack with 181 yards (10.6 avg.) rushing and two touchdowns.
"He really was a tough player last week, he had definitely an outstanding game," Rulo said. "This young man has stepped into the starting lineup and done a great job."
Justin Strong (6-2, 190 sr.) also eclipsed the century mark, picking up 127 yards and a touchdown on just five carries.
Althoff finished with 326 yards rushing in the victory, averaging more than 12 yards per attempt.
Althoff runs many of the same formations as Helias saw from Southeast in last Saturday afternoon's 62-0 Crusader victory in Kansas City. Althoff just runs them better, with better personnel.
"They are going to be in shotgun or pistol the entire game," Rulo said. "It's a spread offense, we're going to see the spread the rest of the year, except for maybe against Kirksville.
"So we need to be ready to defend against it."
The Crusaders are preparing to see big doses of Cosey and Strong tonight.
"They really are just looking to get the ball into the hands of their playmakers," Rulo said. "We are really going to have to have our guys play really sound football.
"You have to limit big plays."
The Althoff offensive line features starting tackles at 6-foot-8, 340 pounds and 6-5, 305.
"With guys that size, we really have to be good on our technique and our discipline," Rulo said.
That carries over to the Helias offense as well.
"They are going to make us technically sound, and that's good," Rulo said. "We pride ourselves on that."
Helias had a very good game offensively at Southeast, both on the scoreboard and in the film room.
"We graded our guys and they graded out very well," Rulo said. "They came out better this year than when we beat them (56-6) last year.
"We are a lot more technically sound than we were last year, especially up front. We are really happy with that."
Helias quarterback Daniel Rhea and running back Blake Savage were a potent 1-2 punch in the win against Southeast. Playing a little more than two quarters, Rhea ran for three touchdowns and 144 yards, while Savage totaled 95 yards in two scores.
With Blake Veltrop rushing for more than 170 yards in the opener against Hannibal, Helias has shown it has multiple weapons on offense.
"With our offense, if the week before somebody gets a lot of yards, our opponent is going to concentrate on stopping them," Rulo said. "Then that opens up things for other guys."
Sharing the wealth on offense is key for Helias.
"In a really good option offense, you are going to see three or four guys with the same amount of yards once you get into the season a little bit," Rulo said. "Then it is tough for the opposition to really prepare on who to stop."
Helias isn't quite sure what defense it will see from Althoff tonight.
"They seem to dial up some interesting schemes against us, which is a exciting challenge for us," Rulo said.
Two years ago, Althoff moved its linebackers around to try to confuse Helias. Last year, Althoff blitzed a linebacker on almost every play to get someone into the backfield as quickly as possible in an attempt to disrupt the option game.
"The chess match part is kind of fun," Rulo said. "You have to figure out how to put them into some binds where you can."
Helias is still looking to add the passing game to its attack this season.
"We've got the ability to throw it," Rulo said. "It's just a matter of doing it at the right time against a defense that isn't prepared for it."
Helias has committed only two turnovers this season, both in the opener against Hannibal. Taking care of the ball will be the key tonight.
"The stats say you are going to win 75 percent of the time if you are plus-two in turnovers," Rulo said. "We are really stressing that with our guys this season."
Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
III
This will be the final of a four-game series between Althoff and Helias. Althoff has won the last two meetings - 54-38 in 2015 and 51-20 last year - after Helias posted a 35-7 victory on the road in 2014. Althoff finished 11-1 last season, advancing to the third round of the state playoffs. Althoff junior quarterback Hayes Taylor is a transfer from Ladue High School. Taylor was 5-of-7 passing for 43 yards against Collinsville. Helias is injury-free for tonight's game. Helias will be at home against next Friday, hosting Hickman.
Related media:
Helias Crusaders Football Podcast [Althoff preview, Sept. 1, 2017]