“We’re going to be counting on them an awful lot”: Helias football turns to senior leadership

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Helias Crusaders will lean on the veterans heading into the 2022 season, as the team will return five starters on offense and four on defense.

"We feel like this could be a team, as we develop this season, it could be a very good football team," head coach Chris Hentges said.

You can watch the full interview with coach Hentges in the video player below.

One of Helias' key returners is quarterback Drew Miller. The senior worked his way up through the program to earn his starting spot after former state championship-winning QB Jacob Weaver graduated.

"Anytime a quarterback has two and even three years in your program as a starter, there's a lot of advantages there," Hentges said. "I've seen him grow as far as decision-making, that's probably the number one thing, you know, making good pre-snap decisions, deciding where that football needs to go, his reads in the run game."

Hentges added that he feels like his entire senior class has great leadership qualities. Along with Miller, linemen Jack Klebba and Trevor Kobb both come back with experience as well as RB/LB Korbin Fischer and TE/DL Trey Bexten.

Helias will open up the season with a road trip to Hannibal on August 26. The Pirates' offense features one of the best athletes in the state of Missouri. Running back Aneyas Williams is a four-star prospect with offers from Mizzou, Alabama, Ole Miss, Michigan State, Kentucky, Iowa, Florida, and more.

"He's probably the best athlete that we're going to play all year," Hentges said. "We'll certainly have to game plan and scheme to try to slow him down a little bit. They're a very talented team, a state finalist team from last year, so we'll be ready when that August 26 day comes around."