Brother Rice transfer Gavin Helpingstine’s punt return is a ‘big one’ in Andrean’s wet, windy win over Lowell

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Junior wide receiver Gavin Helpingstine may be in his first season at Andrean after transferring from Brother Rice in Chicago.

But the 6-foot, 185-pound Helpingstine already has a keen appreciation for what winning the Northwest Crossroads Conference championship means to the 59ers.

“I’m new to it, but it’s a great feeling,” Helpinstine said. “We really just did it as a team. Our defense had our offense’s backs a lot.”

Indeed, on a windy, rainy Friday night, special teams also played a role. Helpingstine’s 55-yard punt return to Lowell’s 3-yard line set up the first score, senior running back Brady Stovall’s touchdown in the opening quarter, in the 59ers’ 21-7 win.

Andrean (8-1, 6-0), which is ranked No. 3 in the Class 3A state coaches poll, secured its sixth NCC title in the past seven seasons after its second straight de facto conference championship game against Lowell (6-3, 5-1).

“We have two goals every season, and one of them is to win the conference championship,” Andrean coach Chris Skinner said. “We don’t single out specific games or opponents or statistical markers. It’s win a conference championship, and when I met with the seniors in March for our first leadership courses, that was the first thing we talked about, what it was going to take to get that done.

“So I’m very proud of the team, very proud of the way the seniors are taking control of the team, and obviously proud of their efforts (Friday) for getting it done.”

During a game in which the 59ers relied largely on their rushing defense and rushing offense, Helpingstine caught two passes from junior quarterback Dylan Gore for 18 yards. Helpingstine entered the game with 30 catches for 412 yards and three TDs as part of a talented and productive receiving corps that includes junior Tyler Vo and sophomore Stetson Sullivan.

“We have a loaded receiver room,” Helpingstine said. “Everyone’s getting touches. We’re spreading the ball around. It really helps get the eyes off one man so defenses really can’t guard our receivers, and then we wouldn’t be able to do it without Dylan either.

“Coach Duke (LaMere), our receiver coach, has done a lot to help me understand the plays more because transferring to a whole different playbook is a hard thing to do. Our coaches created Zoom calls with me, just to help me understand everything better.”

Helpingstine also has two kickoff returns for TDs and a punt return for a TD for the 59ers, who begin Class 3A sectional play against Greater South Shore Conference South champion Griffith (9-0).

“What he’s been able to do on the receiving front has been important, adding another weapon outside and how you space the field,” Skinner said. “How do you cover all those guys?

“But then also what he does in the return game, kickoff returns, punt returns, he had that big one (Friday). The weather early was pretty miserable, with the wind and the rain, and for us to start that drive on the 3-yard line, that was pretty big.”

This story will be updated.

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