Friday Night Lights: The Last Night

All across Montana, high school football fields are simply a patch of grass and a couple of field goal posts.

But Blue Pony Stadium in Havre is more than that. It is a historic and unique football field, played on by a proud program in the Havre Blue Ponies. And a talented group of HHS seniors will play their final regular season football game on the hallowed Blue Pony Stadium turf tonight at 7 against the conference rival Lewistown Golden Eagles.

This season the Ponies have nine seniors highlighting the roster. And just as countless seniors have done before them, these nine athletes will play in an emotional home finale as prep football players. The nine seniors include, Thomas Gruber, Ned Malone, Trevor Jensen, Ryne Antley, Tristen Manuel, Jake Williams, Dustin Odegard, Kyle Duitsmen and Tyler Adams. And while a win would be a major accomplishment by this group of seniors, they also know that this game is bigger than just senior night, it also has major implications on whether or not the Ponies make the post season or not, and as what seed.

“We have the best stadium in the state in my opinion,” Manuel said. “I remember being a little kid playing behind the stands just waiting for my chance and it is here now, my senior season. But I haven’t really thought about senior night until recently, but this is our last time playing at Blue Pony Stadium. I just want to go out there and get a win, it wouldn’t only be huge for us seniors, it would be a huge win in the conference.”

Currently the Ponies are 1-1 in the conference, making it that much more important to exit Blue Pony Stadium with a win for these seniors.

Like most of the seniors, Manuel has played football for the Ponies for four years, this being his second on the varsity squad. He has spent every season being molded into a crucial component to the teams’ success. But Duitsmen is in a different scenario, as this is his first year with the Ponies since moving to Havre from Nebraska this past summer. But just like the rest, Duitsmen would love nothing more than to grab a win after spending all season trying to make his mark on Havre football.

“It changes your perspective,” Duitsmen said. “This is everybody’s last year playing, and the last time playing these teams, but for me this is my first time playing them. But you have to make a show, you have to show off that you are a senior, and you have to show that you have worked for this for four years of high school and through middle school just to make it to this point.

“(A win) would be so important for me,” Duitsmen added. “I have only played with these guys for a month and a half or two months, but they are my team. I would fight forever for them and I will do anything I can to get a win. The emotion will be bigger because this is our last home game and we have to put on a good show for the home fans. I want to win.”

With the conference race looking tight, and with a fairly large group of nine seniors this season, the Pones should expect a packed house.

Malone is hoping for a packed house, as he too will play his final snaps at home, but will do so after missing three games due to emergency surgery last month. But Malone is back in the lineup as a wide receiver and corner back tonight, and anyway possible, Malone wants to boost the team to a win.

“I am really excited because this is my last opportunity to go out there and play at home,” Malone said. “We are trying to prove that we are a top team in the Central A, so that would be huge. And with a win on senior night, that is how every senior wants to leave.”

Playing under the lights is not something many high school students get to do, but it is something that many wish they could do. It is a great and memorable experience, and like Duitsmen said, it typically comes after years and years of preparation and hard work.

The team, as well as seniors are focused on a win for the entire program. A win means more to the seniors, but it also gets the Ponies back on track in a hunt for a conference title and trip to the state playoffs. And after a stumble last weekend on the road against the league leading Belgrade Panthers, a win is much needed for everybody.

“I felt like all of the seniors really matured the last couple years,” Manuel said. “We have grown together as a family and we have really been able to click better. I believe we are the best team in the conference, I know we had an upset last weekend, but we all want to come back and show the state what we can do this weekend.”

Havre and Lewsitown meet in tonight’s senior night game at 7 inside famed Blue Pony Stadium. While it will be the official home finale for HHS’s seniors, the Ponies are still fighting for a home game in the upcoming Class A playoffs.