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Photo Credit: Nick Smith/PrepsKC

The Helias Catholic Crusaders led Smithville for just 32 seconds of their Class 4 semifinal game, but that was enough.

The Crusaders got a defensive stop in the final two minutes and scored a touchdown in the final minute to complete the 13-10 comeback win and earn a spot in the state championship next week.

"Offensively we weren't clicking all night, but that's more of a credit to Smithville," Helias head coach Chris Hentges said. "We made some adjustments, but a lot of times we were just one block away. We just kept grinding. We just needed a play, a couple of plays and we got a big play with (Cole) Stumpe, which is something we've been relying on a lot. I can't say enough about how well the defense played and kept us in the ball game."

Turnovers cost both teams greatly throughout the game. Smithville looked to have something going with a fumble recovery at the Helias 31 with 1:09 to play in the first, but fumbled it back to the Crusaders on the very next play.

The Warriors came up with another big turnover on an interception by Caleb Donnell that was returned to the Helias 35-yard line. However, the drive was ended with an INT by Helias in the end zone.

The best scoring opportunity in the first 24 minutes was a 27-yard field goal by Helias on the game’s first drive, but the kick missed the mark and it was 0-0 at halftime.

The Warriors finally cashed in on a takeaway late in the third quarter. Noah Riecker's interception off a deflected pass gave Smithville a first down at the Helias 10-yard line. Hayden Sigg leapt into the end zone a few plays later from the 1 and Smithville had the 7-0 lead and the game’s first score with 1:47 to play in the third.

The Crusaders’ response came before quarter’s end as Jacob Weaver connected with Cole Stumpe on a 57-yard TD pass as time ran out in the third. The PAT was missed and Smithville stayed on top 7-6.

The Warriors extended the lead to 10-6 on a field goal by Noah Schuetz with 8:55 left in the game.

Smithville looked to put the game away with a fourth-down conversion at the Helias’ 17, but the Crusaders turned the Warriors away and had one more chance to win the game with 2:18 to play.

Helias capitalized on the opportunity with clutch pass plays to Stumpe and Alex Clement, which moved the Crusaders into the red zone before Clement ran it in for the game-winning score with just 32 seconds left in the game.

The Warriors' desperation attempt on the next possession ended with a fumbled lateral and a Helias recovery to seal with victory.

Smithville, who allowed just 13 points all postseason, ends the year with a 10-3 record.

"We outplayed them in every facet of the game, we just didn't put points on the board when we needed to," Smithville head coach Jason Ambroson said. "When you don't put the nails in the coffin, sometimes it can come back to bite you, and this is a good lesson in that. Our team did a phenomenal job of overcoming a whole slew of different things. We made a lot of good plays, they (Helias) just made a few more. We feel like we were a good enough team to win and play for a state championship, but we fell a little short of that expectation."

The Class 4 State Championship will be December 4 at Jefferson City High School at 7 p.m.