Hannibal Pirates 2025 Football Voyage Sets Sail Friday Night

The 2025 Pirate Football campaign gets underway in Jefferson City Friday night with a familiar Hannibal foe, the Helias Crusaders. Hannibal and Helias have kicked off the season together for most of the last decade.

Helias hosts the Hannibal Pirates at Ray Hentges Stadium

Last season Helias played in the Class 5 state championship, losing to Platte County. Hannibal lost in the District Championship game vs Warrenton. Both teams have bright spots returning, a sense of unfinished business and something to prove.

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Helias has won the last three games by an average of 37-18 vs Hannibal and five of the last six. The Crusaders are always a good measuring stick out of the gate for the Pirates.

Hannibal High School

Hannibal enters the 2025 season with Junior QB Wyeth Dorsey under Center. Coach Gschwender believes Dorsey is primed and ready to run the Pirate offense along with Junior running back Darrion Washington and Senior Landyn Essig, fronted by a stout offensive line that is prepared to move the line of scrimmage.

Porter Stadium - Hannibal, Mo.

Meanwhile Helias comes in with returning QB Senior, Austin Weaver who has loads of experience. Senior receiver Cash Warner is a big target for Weaver and Ben Lanigan is a hammer in the backfield. Helias however will be missing graduated meat along the offensive line. This is an area the Pirates can exploit as they return defensive line stalwarts.

The 2025 Hannibal Pirate football season kicks off again verses Helias

While scoring has been a traditional theme when these two teams tangle, don’t be surprised if the scoring is down for this matchup. Nine of the last ten times these schools have played against each other, the winning team scored at least 31. This edition may be more like the 2016 game that ended in a 19-14 Hannibal win. Find out Friday night on 97.9 KICK-FM. Pregame at 6:30p, Kickoff at 7p.