Havre High senior Evan Flathers is key when it comes to the Blue Ponies' offensive and defensive lines. But he isn’t your typical lineman, as he is also a standout hurdler in track and a standout swimmer for the Ponies as well.
Flathers has played Pony football for four years, and is a two-year varsity starter. And while he started his career as a running back and a tight end, he now makes a name for himself protecting his quarterback and trying to sack the opposition.
But standing at 5-11 and 195 pounds, Flathers isn’t a massive body on the field. Instead, he uses his quickness and competitive drive to get the job done.
Flathers is now in his senior year of football and he's ready to help impact the Ponies, not only as an important two-way player on the field, but as a leader as well.
Here's five questions with Flathers as the Ponies prepare to face Miles City tonight
HDN: What is tougher in your opinion, playing on the offensive line, or defensive line?
Flathers: Definitely the offensive line. You have to think more and it’s hard to get in front of your guy and get your blocks down. The defensive line is more fun though, you get to go in there and just tear it up.
HDN: What do you have to do to step up your game when facing a bigger lineman, say the 300-pounders of Miles City?
Flathers: The big-butted lineman, you just have to be low and fast to beat them. That is key, if you do that, when they get off the ball they are slow so you can get around them before they even know the ball is snapped. But they can muscle me around, it happens, but they give me the most trouble when they cut block me.
HDN: What goals does the offense have for this season, and what goals does the defense have?
Flathers: One of our main goals on offense is to score every time we touch the ball, every drive we want to result in a score. And on defense we want to prevent our opponent from scoring every time we are on the field, we want that ball back. Also on our goal board, we want to prevent the other tam from scoring on the first possession of every half.
HDN: What is the toughest part about playing both sides of the ball?
Flathers: Really it’s just being in shape and keeping your head. Stuff gets harder when you are tired, but you can’t let it effect you. If you keep the other players motivated they feed off you, then you get some of that motivation back from them.
HDN: Is there another position you think you would enjoy if you weren’t a lineman?
Flathers: I think I would enjoy being a fullback. I would love to run with the ball a little bit and I think I could get some yards. I can run, just lower my shoulder and go. I think I would be good down on the two-yard-line when we needed to score, I could get there every time.
