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The only thing that seems capable of slowing down the Hills-Beaver Creek football team this season is Covid-19.
The Patriots have come racing out of the gates in this shortened season. They look like a well-oiled machine with a 3-0 record and outscoring their opponents 146-14.
A driving force behind the hot start is a pair of four-year starters. Seniors Gavin Wysong and Tyson Bork give the Patriots a dynamic backfield that keeps defenses on their toes.
“Tyson and Gavin are two very dynamic backs,” H-BC head coach Rex Metzger said. “They have that big play capability and when they touch the ball you just think they are going to score every time.”
One-two punch
When a team tries to take away Wysong, they have to deal with Bork. When they try to slow down Bork, they have to deal with Wysong. If they load up the box to stop the potent rushing attack, Wysong is a talented enough passer to beat them through the air.
“If teams try and load up and stop one, the other one will make you pay,” Metzger said. “It’s not too often that a team gets two players as gifted as Tyson and Gavin. With their speed and athleticism, it’s pretty special to watch.”
Wysong has passed for 291 yards and four touchdowns. On the ground Wysong has rushed for 470 yards and seven touchdowns.
Bork has rushed for 477 yards and six touchdowns. He’s added 57 yards through the air and caught one touchdown pass. A big reason for the early season success for both is the play of the offensive line.
“At the end of the day they’d both agree they’ve got a solid group of guys up front,” Metzger said. “Those guys make it all tick.”
Experience runs deep
Wysong and Bork both started playing the game of football when they were in third grade. They started playing together in seventh grade before they both became starters on the varsity squad when they were freshmen.
Since then, the Patriots have accumulated a record of 25-9 and made the section championship twice. Bork attributes the Patriots’ fast start this season to the team’s veteran leadership.
“We are really experienced,” Bork said. “We have a lot of returning starters from last year’s team. I think because of our knowledge and experience we are off to such a hot start.”
Wysong said that top to bottom the Patriots’ roster is full of players that have a high football IQ. That knowledge and the team’s quickness make them tough to beat.
“Our football team knows the game of football,” Wysong said. “We all understand the game and have great football knowledge. Our speed is something as well. Our starters have great speed and even if they go out, the next guy up has great speed as well and they know what they are doing.”
‘We help each other out’
The Wysong-Bork duo likely causes sleepless nights for opposing coaches as they draw up a plan to slow down the Patriots’ high octane offense.
“It’s awesome to play with him,” Wysong said about Bork.
“He’s a dual-threat in the backfield. Teams aren’t sure if I’m getting the ball or if he’s getting the ball. He helps open things up. I love playing next to him. He’s always ready to rock and roll. He’s a leader.”
Bork said that playing alongside Wysong pushes him to improve.
“We help each other out,” Bork said. “No team is just going to gameplan for one of us. They have to gameplan for both of us. That really helps us both out. Playing next to him is great. We push each other. Playing next to somebody as good as him really pushes you to be your best.”
Wysong said he’s not afraid to run through a pack with his strength, and he said Bork can outrun anybody on the football field.
“His speed is his greatest strength,” Wysong said. “He is very fast. He’s a strong kid. His knowledge of the game is a strength as well.”
Wysong has all the tools in the shed to be the best player anytime he steps on the gridiron. Bork said one of Wysong’s greatest strengths is his work ethic and competitive fire.
“He’s very quick,” Bork said. “He’s very strong. He has good football knowledge. His passion for the game is something else. He just loves the game. He’s somebody that will always give 100 percent every single day no matter what.”
Plans to succeed amid pandemic challenges
Covid-19 has thrown a wrench in a lot of people’s lives. It threw a wrench in H-BC’s plans for the 2020 football season.
In 2018 the Patriots had their season ended in the section championship. In 2019 they once again had their season ended in the section championship.
With so many starters returning they had one goal in mind for the 2020 season. That goal was to get over the hump and reach the state tournament.
Due to Covid-19 the Minnesota State High School League has decided not to host a state tournament for fall sports. With no state tournament, the Patriots have been robbed of the opportunity to possibly play at U.S. Bank Stadium.
“Our goal this year is to take one game at a time,” Wysong said.
“We want to win the section championship. We just want to enjoy the games while we have them, considering we weren’t even going to have a season until next spring. We are just going to enjoy every game and every win with each other. Having no state tournament stinks. It’s what you dream of when you start the season. It’s the reward after having a great season.”
The Patriots can only control what they do. The decision not to have a state tournament was out of their hands. Instead of focusing their energy on an opportunity that was taken from them, they are focused on what’s in front of them.
“Our goal this year is to go one game at a time,” Bork said. “We want to stay perfect and keep winning. Without that state tournament it really stinks. That’s something you work for all year. It’s something you dream of when you are in high school. You dream of playing in that big-time game, and having that taken away just stinks. But we are focused on winning each week.”