Helias defenders tackle a Marshall running back. (photo/Pam Bax, Helias High School website)
The Helias Cathohlic Crusaders from Jefferson City will open the 2014 football season Sunday, Aug. 24, with a game against the Nixa Eagles that will be televised by ESPNU from Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City, Mo.
Nixa, a Class 5 school finished 9-2 last season and beat Branson before losing to Springfield-Kickapoo in the quarterfinals of last year’s Show Me Bowl. Helias, a Class 4 school, is coming off back-to-back appearances in the Show Me Bowl finals, where they finished runner-up to Webb City.
Helias was set to move forward with a game on ESPNU against Rock Bridge, but the deal fell through. The ESPN Network approached Helias once again about the Nixa game and both schools agreed.
“We’re looking forward to the opportunity to showcase our football program, our school and the entire Jefferson City community,” Helias head coach Phil Pitts told the Jefferson City News Tribune.
The Nixa Eagles will be featured on ESPNU this August 24th. (photo/TalonTalk.com)
The game, originally scheduled to kick off on Friday, Aug. 22, was re-scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. start that Sunday and if heat is an issue, the start time could be pushed back to later in the day.
Both schools will receive a stipend for agreeing to appear in the game.