Feature Story /// Helias Football
Craig Lammers was an All-American running back for Helias in
The Helias Crusaders football team had seen their undefeated season “That was a tough one for us,” said Chris Hentges, a senior on that team. “I think we were ranked number one in the state at that particular time, being undefeated.”
Hentges, a running back for Helias, had played his last game. He
school record that still stands today. “It was a disappointing end to what was a very special season,” said For junior quarterback Ted LePage, the loss hurt. A hurt, he said, that carried over to the next season. “We had something special, and then it was gone,” said LePage. They quickly started to go to work preparing for the next season. Since the seventh grade, LePage said, they wanted to be state champions.
10 /// January 2025
owned a print business. “We all talked, what do we want to do,” said Lammers. “We want to try to be the best. So we came up with the slogan Quest to be the Best. Made a few bumper stickers out of it and went from there.” ers opened the season with a win against Union. They lost to St. Louis Soldan in week two. Helias was 4-1 when they met the Kirks- ville Tigers in week six. Kirksville would come away with a 16-13 win. “Losing the two games was probably good for us,” said Lammers. “It’s a humble check. Made us more determined. Work a little harder.” Helias did indeed go back to work. They would end the regular season with shutout wins against Rock Bridge, Fulton, Mexico and Washington.
was not going to end.
“I remember I was so angry,” said LePage. “Everything is done at
halftime and I remember I’m still sitting there and everyone is out of the locker room. I look up and Craig Lammers is looking right at me, and I said, I’m not losing tonight. He said ‘I’m not either.’” Helias would come back to beat Kirksville 25-14. Wins over St. Charles West and Lutheran South sent Helias to Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City and a state title game against Joplin-Parkwood. John McGuire and I broadcast the game on KWOS. I remember being
tional Football League stadium.
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