By Tiffany L. Rehbein
The Blue Ponies have two points of redemption when they travel to Butte Saturday.
First, they dropped their home opener, 9-12, to District 2-B Glasgow last week in the first game of the season and look to improve to the winning side of things.
Second, the Central A Butte Central Maroons handed Havre its only Central A loss at the end of last season.
In an overtime nailbiter, Butte won, 29-28, in Havre.
But things have changed on both ends in 99.
Five-foot-10 senior quarterback, Ricky Brown, looks to get the start again for the Blue Ponies.
The running game will again consist of sophomore bright light Kevin Harada and junior Brent Finneman.
Finneman ran in the only Havre touchdown last week.
The three-yard scamper lifted the Ponies to a brief 9-6 lead over Glasgow.
Senior Nate Baltrusch kicked the extra point for the Ponies. Baltrusch is also a favorite wide receiver for Brown.
Senior linebacker Chris Klobofski smashed a Glasgow carrier last week, causing a fumble that was recovered by Harada.
Defensively, senior Doug Kallenberger at defensive back has been showing improvement through the pre-season. He also looks to contribute offensively as a wide receiver for the Ponies.
Senior Tyler Bebee and Klobofski are the big men on the line for Havre.
Junior Joey Roman, senior Troy Warden, senior defensive end and punter Jesse Suek, junior Matt Sasaki and senior Landon Grant each contributed in key tackles in last weeks loss.
Butte, who was picked to finish fifth in a Central A pre-season poll, returned nine players from last seasons 5-3 team.
All-State lineman Jeremy Pantoja returns from last year. He will work next to Steve Walsh, Ryan Lynch, Wayne Butori and Rich OBrien.
Offensively, Zac Thomas has stepped into the quarterback shoes this season.
He will look to senior Scott Standinger and juniors Tyler McIntyre and Brian Wheeler to receive.
Butte Central, 0-0 in the Central A and 1-0 overall, opened its 1999 senior against non-conference Billings Central and easily won, 49-12.
Kick-off is slated for 1 p.m. at Butte.
