SELBY – Tray Hettick has thrown for more than 5,000 yards, 79 touchdowns and been a part of multiple conference championship squads on the way to 31 career victories. However, one thing has always alluded the Herreid-Selby Area quarterback and he would like to do something about that on Thursday.

Hettick and the rest of the Wolverines are in search of a state football championship. Herreid-Selby Area meets Hitchcock-Tulare at 11 a.m. Thursday in a clash of unbeatens in the Class 9B title contest at the DakotaDome in Vermillion.

“Right now it’s just about finishing that ultimate goal,” Hettick said.

That ultimate goal has been tantalizingly close. Last year, the Wolverines finished runner-up in the state championship game. Two years ago, they lost in the semifinals and the year before that the team was also runner-up.

“It’s gotten away from us a couple of times now,” Hettick said.

That’s about the only thing that has managed to escape the grasp of HSA, which has lost just one game in its past 23 outings, and just three times in the past 34 games.

At the helm of it all has been Hettick, who makes sure the Wolverines get in the right spots and makes sure that the ball ends up in the right hands.

The senior quarterback is allowed to make judgement calls before the ball is snapped. He understands and appreciates the power that has been entrusted to him.

“I get a lot of responsibility to do things like that, which I don’t take for granted,” Hettick said. “As a quarterback especially, there’s nothing more rewarding than when that play is called one thing, and then you get to check to something else and that play scores. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

Hettick has certainly done his part to earn that trust.

“His ability to understand the offensive schemes, break down the defenses and get us into good play calls is second to none,” said HSA coach Clayton Randall. “He just has a tremendous feel for the game.”

Hettick has been a three-year starter at quarterback for the Wolverines. During that time, Randall said that he has evolved into a complete team leader and has played a key role in the team’s success.

“He is the guy that makes sure that all the pieces are doing what needs to be done for us to be in the position that we are in,” Randall said. “He’s got his eyes on every player in our program.”

That goes for the defensive side of the ball as well.

His sophomore season, Hettick asked if he could also play in the defensive backfield.

“He earned some reps and has never relinquished the position,” Randall said. “He does a great job getting the back end of our defense properly aligned and sees things very well.”

And make no mistake, Hettick is not afraid of contact.

“Defensively, sometimes you get to come up and just lay the boom on somebody and everybody is like ‘Is that the quarterback?’ It doesn’t’ look normal,” Hettick said. “It’s kind of cool to see people’s reactions and it feels good every once in a while. I like to come up and make a big tackle. It feels really good.”

While Hettick has racked up impressive numbers on offense, there’s no doubt he could have had even more. However, many of the Wolverines’ games have ended by halftime, and he also shares the backfield with standout Brenden Begeman who has rushed for more than 6,000 career yards.

Hettick could care less about career stats, though. He and Begeman have shared the same dream since they became teammates back in third grade and it has nothing to do with numbers.

“We’ve always been partners in crime. We’re trying to do the same things together and if he’s going to get us there one way and I’m going to get us there another way, I think he’ll tell you as well, we both really don’t care who’s getting what,” Hettick said. “We’re doing it to win a state championship, which we haven’t done, yet.”

Hettick, who plans on playing college football, is a multi-sport athlete. He is a key member of the basketball squad and has qualified for the past five state golf tournaments. He said at one time his goal was to pursue basketball.

“That’s kind of what I was looking for. That was my dream, but something about throwing the football and throwing touchdowns, it just gets you a little more excited,” Hettick said. “Those Friday nights just hit a little bit different and I have to believe that Saturdays are the same.”

Before then, though, there is this matter of unfinished business that lies in front of Hettick and his teammates on Thursday.

Hettick is appreciative of all of his coaches and past teammates who have helped him along the way. They serve as extra motivation as this year’s squad tries to capture that elusive state championship.

“We’re trying to do it for them and all the ones that came before us that didn’t get a chance to finish it,” Hettick said.

Hettick said all members past and present are “like one big family.”

He recalled being a waterboy in sixth grade and the players he watched then now come back and cheer him on.

“No one ever leaves,” Hettick said. “Once you’re a Wolverine, you’re always a Wolverine.”