Blue Ponies hoping to ground Eagles

Few things are more rewarding than winning a football game. The preparation involved for each game is immense. There is practice, film study and playing the actual game. Unfortunately that winning feeling is something the Havre High football team has yet to experience.

However, if the Blue Ponies have anything to say about it, that will change tonight, when they play host to Eastern A rival Sidney in a nonconference game at Blue Pony Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7.

"We have come close but we just haven't been able to get that win yet," HHS head coach Jason Christenson said. "But these kids want it so bad, they can taste it, and I can taste it. They have been working really hard and hopefully this week that hard work will pay off."

Tonight's game will be a continuation of a long-standing series between Sidney and HHS, with the Eagles winning last season's game at Sidney by the score of 14-7. 

While Havre (0-2) is still looking for its first win of the season, Sidney (2-0) has yet to lose. In the Eagles' season-opener, they dispatched Central A conference member Livingston 33-0 and followed that up with a 28-6 win over Williston, North Dakota last week.

The Eagles, who will be led into Blue Pony Stadium by head coach Roger Merritt, are a power running team and will try to pound the football against a Pony defense that surrendered over 200 yards rushing against both Whitefish and Miles City. 

The Eagles' running game features two talented runners in senior Logan Thiel and junior Bridger Coffman. Thiel will start the game for the Eagles but Coffman is just as dangerous. In fact, Coffman is currently Sidney's leading rusher with 236 yards on 37 carries, good enough for an average of 6.4 yards per carry. Thiel on the other hand, has 121 yards on 20 carries but is also a multi-purpose threat and leads Sidney with 87 yards receiving after two games.

"When you are running the ball that much, the rushing yards are going to come," Christenson said. "The key thing for us is going to be limiting the big plays and also trying to put them into situations where they have to try and throw the football."

When Havre has the football, the difference in offensive philosophies will be plain as day. In two games, Sidney has attempted just 24 passes, while HHS quarterback Dane Warp has attempted almost 60 passes and thrown for nearly 600 yards.

Warp, who earned All-State honors at quarterback in Class A last season, will be the key to reviving a Pony offense that has struggled to score points. Warp threw for more than 300 yards last week in Miles City but due to failures inside the red zone, Havre was only able to put up 19 points on the Cowboys.

The junior quarterback is still without All-Conference wide out Nate Rismon but has plenty of weapons available, starting with tailback Parker Filius, who earned All-Conference honors a year ago with more than 1,000 all-purpose yards. 

Isaac Warp, who had six receptions for over 100 yards for Havre against Miles City will also play a key role as will senior Alec Drew, who has two touchdown receptions so far this season. Sophomore Michael Loftus, who also caught six passes and scored a touchdown last week, will also be an integral part of the offense tonight.

"The thing about our offense is that we want to get the football to the open guy, whoever that is," Christenson said. "Dane just needs to get through his reads and make good decisions."

One thing the Ponies will try to do offensively is establish a running game, which has been nonexistent through the first two games. Havre managed just 19 yards rushing against Whitefish and ended up with only 56 in Miles City. While Christenson is not worried too much about the yardage, he knows an effective running game would take pressure of his star quarterback.

"Nowhere does it say that you have to be balanced on offense," Christenson said. "We are going to do what allows us to move the ball most effectively. But if we can get a running game going, that will take a lot of pressure off of Dane and maybe stop him from getting hit so much back there."

Defensively, the Ponies are making some lineup changes. Jace Billy will move from linebacker to defensive end and his spot at outside linebacker will be filled by Jase Kato. Dane Warp will also start for the second consecutive week at safety.

HHS will also be relying on Filius to try to make the same kind of defensive impact as he did a week ago when he had 11 tackles and forced three fumbles. Senior defensive end Tyrell Pierce will also play an important role, providing a pass rush when Sidney does choose to throw. Pierce currently leads the Ponies with three sacks.

"Defensively, we just want to be really solid in the front seven," Christenson said. "That is part of the reason why we made some changes. Obviously, I would rather not have to play Dane on defense, but this is Class A football and he is our best option back there."

Another exciting aspect about Havre's matchup against Sidney is that it will be under the lights at Blue Pony Stadium. The first home game for HHS against Whitefish was in the afternoon, which is rare for the Ponies and according to Christenson, the atmosphere just isn't the same.

So, the Ponies are certainly excited to play their first true home game in fall conditions tonight, and more so, they are excited to come out and get that first win of 2014.

"I know the kids are really excited about playing under the lights," Christenson said. "I don't care what anyone says, I think Blue Pony Stadium is the best in Montana. If it's not the best it's the most unique. It's loud during the day but the atmosphere is just different at night, when you are under the lights and hear all those cars honking their horns."

Kickoff between Havre and Sidney is scheduled for tonight at 7. Havre is back on the road next week, traveling to Glendive.