Hills-Beaver Creek improves to 12-0 on the season

Less than a year removed from a heartbreaking defeat in last year’s 9-Person Prep Bowl, Hills-Beaver Creek avenged that 20-8 loss to Fertile-Beltrami by defeating the defending champs 30-14 in the state semifinals Thursday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The Patriots erupted for 30 first-half points and were able to keep the Falcons offense at bay. Their defense has been a hallmark of their success this season by allowing just 14 touchdowns in their first 11 games. But it is their offense that has been the engine behind the juggernaut that hopes to claim the 9-Man title when they face the winner of Hillcrest Lutheran and Kittson County Central.

The Patriots came into the game outscoring opponents 567-86 and scored first when Brodie Metzger caught a 45-yard TD pass form Jamin Metzger. But Fertile-Beltrami answered when Creed Tollefson busted through the often-impenetrable Patriot defense and scampered 85 yards for the score and an 8-6 deficit after the first quarter.

The patriots went back on top when Hunter Leenderts plunged into the end zone from just outside the goal line for a 14-6 lead. A two-point conversion made it 16-6. Leenderts TD was his only rushing attempt of the game, but was a big one.

Not to be outdone, the Falcons rallied when Tollefson scored his second TD of the game on a 6-yard run. A successful two-point conversion made it a 16-14 game. But the Patriots finished out the half with two scores. Eduardo Wegener scored on a 69-yard run and Mr. Football finalist Micah Bush scored on a 2-yard run to go up 30-14 at halftime.

Neither team scored in the second half as the Patriots held on to advance to the Prep Bowl for the second consecutive season.

Fertile-Beltrami fell to 8-4 on the season. They were the first team to hold Hills-Beaver Creek to less than 40 points this season. The Patriot defense held the Falcons offense to just 208 yards, 85 of those coming on Tollefson’s TD run. Tollefson led the Falcons with 114 yards rushing on eight carries. Quarterback Gavin Aakhus completed 14 passes for 80 yards. Bryer Strem led the Falcons with six catches for 54 yards and Preston Hanson caught five passes for 21 yards. Strem led the Falcons defense with 12 tackles. Hanson had 10.

Hills-Beaver Creek’s Wegener led all rushers with 162 yards on 20 carries. Jamin Metzger completed 11 passes for 118 yards and one touchdown. Brodie Metzger caught seven passes for 92 yards including the 45-yard touchdown. Karson Metzger caught two, two-point conversion attempts and also led the Patriot defense with eight total tackles.

For full game stats visit: https://www.mshsl.org/sites/default/files/2025-11/2025-fb-sf-9p-fb-hbc.pdf

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