For the first time since 2013, the Blue Earth Area Bucs have started the season 3-0. That success is due in part to the success of first-year quarterback Gavin Storbeck.

Blue Earth Area started the season with a 29-0 victory over Maple River, then ran through New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva 57-6. The Bucs kept the winning streak going with a 46-36 win over St. Peter during Week. Blue Earth Area played host to Windom Area for Homecoming at Wilson Field on Friday night.

Storbeck said he believes the early season success can be attributed to the team’s hard work.

“I think our preparation,” Storbeck said. “We’ve been willing to listen to what the coaches have to say before we have our games on Friday. And the amount of time that our entire team is putting in off the field, watching film and just keeping in shape for games.”

That preparation has led to success for Storbeck in taking over the role of starting quarterback. BEA head coach Randy Kuechenmeister said the team had a choice to make coming into the season on who would run the offense, but Storbeck has made it clear he’s ready to succeed.

“Coming in we didn’t know who was going to be our starting QB,” Kuechenmeister said. “We had options, he was one of the options. Throughout the summer and the first few weeks of practice, even going into the first game, we weren’t quite sure and we just kept giving people repetitions, giving people opportunities and it just kind of worked to where we put three guys back there. But for the majority of the reps, he’s been the guy back there and he’s made the most of his opportunity, no question.”

Kuechenmeister and Storbeck agreed that Storbeck’s main strength at the position is how he makes decisions and uses his strong arm to execute on what he sees.

Kuechenmeister said Storbeck is smart and knows where the ball should go, while being able to quickly get the ball to receivers. Storbeck said he believes his ability to read defenses has been a big strength.

Storbeck’s big arm and quick decision making has led him to a lot of statistic success as well as team success.

Through his first three weeks, Storbeck has totaled 37 completions on 48 attempts, throwing for 596 yards and seven touchdowns, though he sat for a full half after BEA went ahead 50-6 at the halftime break against NRHEG.

Storbeck and the Bucs will have to keep the momentum of their high-scoring offense against Pipestone Area on Friday and Jackson County Central on Oct. 4.

Storbeck said in the coming weeks he and the team need to continue listening to their coaches, while understanding their jobs on the field and not losing their composure. Kuechenmeister said the team must continue to put in the effort.

“I would say the team and I need to be willing to be coached and listen to what they have to say through the entire week so when we get to gametime on Friday, we all know our jobs,” Storbeck said. “If we all do our jobs, the game should go in our favor.

“One of the biggest things I think is keeping my head. If I keep my head, I know my teammates around me are going to keep theirs. If I’m calm, they’re going to be calm. I’ve got to control myself and the offense at the same time and if I can do that I think we’ll be able to do something good this year.”

“Keep working number 1, keep working on your mechanics and like everybody, we’ve got to take it a play at a time and keep working,” Kuechenmeister said.

While a junior taking over the role of starting quarterback could be daunting. Storbeck said he was nervous going into the opening game against Maple River. He said the transition from playing junior varsity to starting varsity quarterback in front of a full crowd was nerve-racking.

But through the nerves, BEA has started the season with a perfect 3-0 record, and Kuechenmeister said the success has come from the team’s ability to mix up the game plan.

“We’ve had games where we ran more, we’ve had games where we throw more, I think it depends on what the other team is doing,” Kuechenmeister said. “We’ve been able to execute and make plays when we needed to make plays to win games. That’s kind of why we’ve won our first games.”

With the success on the field and the effort put in off it, Storbeck said he thinks this year’s BEA team could continue with their fantastic start.

“The hard work that we put in in the offseason has shown in what we have done this year,” Storbeck said. “If we’re willing to keep that hard work going, we can maybe do something special this year.”