George Ferguson Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com
The Hi-Line, in particular, Havre High School will be well represented when the 2007 East/West Shrine Football Game kicks off in Great Falls later this summer. The game is scheduled for July 21 at Memorial Stadium in the Electric City, and the Havre Blue Ponies will have three players and a head coach on the field that night. HHS second-year head coach Kevin Sukut will run training camp for the East team this year and Sukut will have quarterback Tanner Donovan, linebacker Evan Hinebauch and defensive lineman Michael Erickson in camp with him. Sukut returned the Blue Ponies to the Class A playoffs this season with a 7-2 overall record. Havre captured the Central A title, and the Blue Ponies reeled off seven straight wins after a season-opening loss to Whitefish. HHS was narrowly defeated in the Class A quarterfinals by Frenchtown. Donovan will start at quarterback for the East squad after an All-Conference senior season. Meanwhile, Hinebauch will start at linebacker for the East team after he earned All-State honors at that position as well as fullback. Hinebauch was also selected to the Tribune Super State team this year. Erickson was also a two-way All-State selection for HHS, and he will get the nod on defense in the Shrine Game. Other Hi-Line players selected to the East team were Harlem center Tyler Faulkinberry. The 6-1, 185-pound lineman earned Class B All-State honors there, as well as at linebacker for a much-improved Wildcats’ team. Chester/J-I standout Matt Wicks was also selected to the team. Wicks was an All-State performer at linebacker and an All-Conference player at running back for the Hawks. C/J-I advanced to the second round of the Class C playoffs in 2006. In all, 62 players on the East and West rosters were members of teams that advanced to the state playoffs last fall.
