RUS BAER'S PREP PICKS

Published Friday, October 3, 2008

As far as high school football rivalries in Columbia go, Hickman has Jefferson City. Rock Bridge … well, it had Helias. For years, the old North Central Missouri Conference rivals would meet on the gridiron with a conference crown usually at stake. But after the 2003-04 school year, the Bruins and Crusaders were voted out of the NCMC. The football rivalry remained intact for two more years before Helias, a Class 4 program, took the Class 6 Bruins off the schedule after Rock Bridge handily won the final three games in the series by a combined 100-34.

“It had ceased being competitive,” Helias Coach Chris Hentges said. “Two years in a row, they just put it to us.”

Hentges, who was beginning his first season in charge of the Crusaders after rare back-to-back losing seasons, admits that he wanted no part of a 2006 Rock Bridge team that was loaded with Division I talents Logan Gray, Aron White and Scott Concannon.

The move frustrated Rock Bridge Coach A.J. Ofodile, who said he tried to convince the Helias coaches that his pipeline of Division I talent wouldn’t last.

In the midst of last year’s 1-9 season, Ofodile must have made believers out of the Crusaders. After a loss to Helias in a junior varsity game, Ofodile said he received a call from Helias wondering if the Bruins would want to renew the football rivalry.

The timing of the phone call was not lost on Ofodile.

“They beat us on JV, and we started stinking and they felt like, ‘Hey, let’s start playing again,’ ” Ofodile said.

According to Hentges, there was a little more to it than that. After a 10-1 season last year that ended with a sectional loss to the eventual Class 4 champions, Hentges made it a point to beef up his team’s schedule to prepare his players for the postseason.

“We felt that our regular-season schedule didn’t necessarily prepare us for the playoffs,” Hentges said. “We went into this season knowing we had to schedule tougher.”

The Crusaders appear to have done that. Four of Helias’ first four opponents were state-ranked, and a fifth was receiving votes in the Class 5 poll.

So where does a struggling Rock Bridge program fit into this tougher-schedule scenario? After at two-year hiatus, I guess we’ll finally find out.

Tonight’s games

Helias (4-1) at Rock Bridge (1-4)

There’s got to be a reason the Bruins are back on the schedule.

Pick: Helias

Rockhurst (4-1) at Hickman (2-3)

After opening the season on national television against the 2006 state champions, beating the four-time defending state champions from Kansas, losing to No. 1-ranked Blue Springs in double overtime, traveling to play the third-ranked team in Colorado and knocking off state-ranked Jefferson City, maybe the reigning state champs are due for a letdown?

Pick: Rockhurst

Sumner (2-3) at Jefferson City (4-1)

State-ranked Jays finally get a breather from their rugged regular-season slate of games.

Pick: Jefferson City

Mark Twain (1-4) at Centralia (5-0)

Hallsville’s only win is against Mark Twain, so what will the state-ranked Panthers do to the Tigers?

Pick: Centralia

Hallsville (1-4) at Salisbury (2-3)

I’ve been waiting six weeks to do this. Don’t let me down, Indians.

Pick: Hallsville

So. Boone (0-5) at Westran (4-1)

Hornets were the last team to fall to the Eagles some 14 games ago.

Pick: Westran

North Callaway (4-1) at Tipton (5-0)

Every year I think the Class 3 Thunderbirds have a shot to knock off the Class 1 Cardinals for the Mid-Missouri Conference title, and every year I’m wrong. I hate being wrong.

Pick: Tipton

Marshall (1-4) at Fulton (3-2)

It’s high time the Hornets snap out of their losing funk.

Pick: Fulton

Mexico (2-3) at Warrenton (1-4)

Don’t know what to make of the Bulldogs after last week’s shutout loss to Marshall.

Pick: Warrenton

Moberly (5-0) at Hannibal (4-1)

Mounting injuries haven’t gotten the best of the state-ranked Spartans, but a pretty good Class 4 team up in northeast Missouri just might.

Pick: Hannibal

Kirksville (3-2) at Boonville (1-4)

Tigers beat Mexico, and the Pirates didn’t. That’s enough for me.

Pick: Kirksville

Fayette (4-1) at Paris (2-3)

Not really thrilled with the way the Falcons are playing. Consider the state-ranked Class 1 squad on upset alert this week.

Pick: Fayette

Versailles (3-2) at Blair Oaks (4-1)

Anyone remember the last time the Falcons lost a Tri-County Conference game? Take a week to think about it because it won’t happen tonight.

Pick: Blair Oaks

S. Callaway (3-2) at Cole Camp (5-0)

Cole Camp has taken cupcake scheduling to a whole new level. The Bluebirds’ previous five opponents have combined for one victory.

Pick: South Callaway

Missouri Military Academy (2-3) at Metro East, Ill., Lutheran (3-2)

Colonels could be in for a long trip.

Pick: Metro East

Last week: 9-4 (.692)

Overall: 58-14 (.806)

Reach Rus Baer at (573) 815-1787 or rbaer@tribmail.com.