Playing against the rival Hermann Bearcats over the last four years, former Owensville Dutchmen lineman Brent Helmig will continue his academic and athletic pursuits as a Bearcat at Southwest Baptist University (SBU) in Bolivar.

Coached on the offensive and defensive lines by Nathan Cabot and Zach Bollmann, Helmig played in a total of 28 football games over three seasons in an Owensville High School uniform.

Racking up 166 total tackles in three seasons of Dutchmen football, Helmig’s first one came during the season opener of his sophomore season against Potosi.

His first solo tackle came the following week on the road against Eldon’s Mustangs.

He also recorded a season-high six total tackles against the Mustangs.

Helmig’s first career sack also came during his sophomore season against Cuba’s Wildcats on the road. His second sack of his sophomore season came against Sullivan in the first round of districts.

Recording two tackles-for-loss as a sophomore, Helmig also had both of those at Victor Field against Eldon.

Finishing his sophomore season with 33 total tackles in 10 games, 11 were solo stops with the other 22 being assists.

Seeing time in seven games as a junior, Helmig established a new career high for tackles in a game with seven against Pacific’s Indians on the road.

Helmig saw another first happen as a junior against Hermann.

Recovering his first fumble, Helmig helped the Dutchmen retain the Gasconade County Bowl trophy that fall following a 27-14 victory over the visiting Bearcats at Dutchmen Field.

Doubling his tackle-for-loss total to four from his sophomore season, Helmig had stops behind the line of scrimmage as a junior against Hermann, Pacific, Union and St. Clair.

Seeing time in 11 of 12 games this past fall as a senior, the future SBU Bearcat more than tripled his total tackle numbers from his junior season to his final year of high school football as a senior.

Racking up at least 10 total tackles in six of the 11 games he saw action in, Helmig record a career high 15 total stops twice against Eldon and Hermann.

In both of those contest, Helmig has nine solo tackles and six assists.

His next best tackle output on defense was against Cuba where he had 14 total tackles with 11 of them being assists.

Baking up a pair of 13-total tackle performances against St. James and Pacific, Helmig posted 10 assists against the Tigers and nine assists against the Indians.

Helmig’s final double-digit tackle game came in the regular-season match up against Sullivan with 10 total tackles (four solo).

Overall as a senior, Helmig racked up 103 total tackles with 46 solo stops and 57 assists.

Posting seven tackles-for-loss as a senior, Helmig recorded two of them against Priory’s Ravens in the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 3, District 4 championship football game at Dutchmen Field.

He also had a tackle-for-loss last fall against Eldon, Cuba, Hermann, St. Clair and Sullivan.

Without a sack as a junior, Helmig had four as a senior with a career-high two quarterback sacks against the Ravens. Additional sacks came against Eldon and Cuba.

A rarity for a defensive lineman, Helmig snagged his first career interception against Union’s Wildcats on the road.

Helmig also added a fumble recovery against Cuba during his senior season to his aforementioned one two years ago against Hermann.

SBU is a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) in football competing against William Jewell College, Truman State University, McKendree University, Quincy University and Missouri University of Science & Technology (S&T).

Owensville Dutchmen football fans could get their first look at Helmig in a SBU uniform on Saturday, Nov. 12 when the Bearcats travel up Interstate 44 to face Missouri S&T’s Miners.