MISSION — Tyasin Burns is a natural athlete.

He has a 1A state title under his belt with the Nixyaawii boys’ basketball team. He has been to state twice with the Pilot Rock/Nixyaawii football team. This season, he’ll be joining the Pendleton Bucks as the Golden Eagles shift their co-op to Pendleton — it just won’t be until the spring.

“It’s a lot different,” said Burns, 17, of the upcoming co-op. “The whole game’s different.”

Burns briefly spent his early summer break practicing with his new team, but the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic put the season on hold until February 15, 2021, when practices are set to start again, according to the Oregon School Activities Association.

“It is what it is,” Burns said. “I’d rather have a safe season. I’d rather wait the extra few months than rush it.”

Burns is fast, but knows when to be patient. And after a little patience from the rest of the Pendleton football team, the Bucks will be getting quite the runner this spring. On Oct. 18 of last year, Burns ran for 441 yards alone against Dufur, a record that currently sits at No. 14 on the OSAA’s all-time state list for yards in a single game of 8-man football.

His speed is what he’s known for, no matter the sport he’s playing.

“He’s fast, and he’s strong,” said Shane Rivera, Burns’ head basketball coach for the last three seasons. “Tyasin is an all-around athlete. He always was, and became an even greater all-around basketball player. He’s a facilitator. He sees the court really well. He gets everyone involved.”

With Burns on the roster, the Golden Eagles took home a state title in 2018 after taking down Trinity Lutheran 59-42 at the Baker City-hosted championship. They went for a repeat last year, but fell just short, taking home a third-place trophy after an intense 55-54 win over Crosshill Christian.

“He’s never lacked confidence, but his confidence definitely showed last season,” Rivera said. “Without Tyasin, we’re still a good team, but in certain situations, he’s key. He’s not the tallest kid, but with his strength and athleticism, he can get to the rim as good as anybody.”

Burns’ athleticism comes from his family history and a lifetime of practice. He started playing football in third grade, after some motivation from his Uncle Milo.

“He’s been pushing me my whole life,” Burns said. “He pushes me to be the best I can be.”

Burns first joined the Pilot Rock varsity squad as a freshman, where he served as a running back and linebacker for three seasons.

“It was great,” Burns said of his time on the Rockets football team. “It was so different going from eighth grade football to Pilot Rock’s 8-man football. But it was fun. It was a great experience. We had a lot of great players on the team. We won the league — that was a good way to go out.”

Burns’ older sister Mary Stewart is also a former Golden Eagle basketball star, and his younger brother Dylan Abrahamson is an incoming sophomore on the boys’ varsity roster. His grandfather Gary Abrahamson was also a high school football star. During his senior year with the Chemawa Indian School in Salem, he ran for 516 yards and threw for another 148.

Although Burns will have a relaxed fall season this year — perhaps more relaxed than he’s used to — his schedule will fill up considerably in the winter, as football practice is set to begin on Feb. 15, while the state basketball playoffs don’t wrap up until March 6 at the latest.

Like any other challenge, it’s one that Burns is game for.

“I’ll be busier than usual for a couple of weeks,” he said, “but I think it’ll be fine. I think fall and spring have the same weather, so I don’t think that will be a challenge.”

Although much has changed, Burns’ goals have remained the same for both his final football and basketball seasons:

“Everyone’s goal is to win,” he said. “We want to go to state again. We want to finish this.”

Favorite sport to play?

Football — it’s something I’ve always loved. I love the competition and physicality.

Favorite sport to watch?

Basketball — the pace is a lot faster. Something is always happening.

Favorite nonsport activity?

Hanging out and playing video games with the boys.

Favorite high school sports memory?

Winning the state title with (the Nixyaawii boys basketball team) as a sophomore.

A fun fact about you that few people know?

I have a daughter – Lael. She’ll turn 1 on Nov. 8.