SportsZone Football Friday preview: week one
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The 2020 high school football season brought Mid-Missouri two state champions in the Blair Oaks Falcons and the Helias Crusaders. However, now it's time to hit the reset button.
Week one of the high school football season will kick off at 7 p.m. on Friday night and Helias will look to get some valuable game experience. Head coach Chris Hentges said that this team's identity will come with getting more snaps.
"We've had a good fall camp, we had a good summer, but each week is going to be a growing and a learning opportunity for this football team," he said. "It will be a team that, we hope, improves each and every week. We're probably going to have some rough spot early in the year because of our lack of experience, especially at many of the key positions, but we're just excited about getting to play."
The Crusaders experience will be tested right away with a week one match up against Hannibal. The Pirates returned a core of veteran players, including senior quarterback Courtland Watson.
"They certainly have big play capabilities and our defense is going to have to be able to match that," Hentges said. "We know we have our hands full. I think Hannibal's one of, if not the most talented team on our schedule and they're one of the favorites in class four."
Despite the challenge that Hannibal presents in the first game out of the gates, Hentges added that it's a good test of a team to face this solid of an opponent this early in the season.
"I don't really think that you can find out your weaknesses if you play a weak opponent. They won't test you, they won't expose your weaknesses. That's one of the great things about opening up every year with a team like Hannibal because you know they're well-coached, they're going to play hard, they're very talented," he said.
Helias returned three starters on offense and four on defense, but Hentges said he has already seen the younger guys grow throughout the summer. Junior quarterback Drew Miller played behind former QB Jacob Weaver throughout the 2020 season, so game experience is a must for him, as well.
"Drew, probably more so than any of our players has improved each and every week," Hentges said. "I think he brings a lot to the table for our offense. At 6'3, 210 pounds he's big, he's physical, he's fast, and he's got a really nice arm."
The Crusaders and the Pirates will kick off at 7 p.m. at Ray Hentges Stadium in Jefferson City.
Be sure to watch SportsZone Football Friday at 10 p.m. on ABC with Sports Director Andrew Kauffman and ABC17's Nathalie Jones for highlights and reaction from around Mid-Missouri.
