Blue Ponies travel to face an old foe

Havre High football got 2014 off on the wrong foot with a 27-14 loss to the Whitefish Bulldogs last week. Now, as the Ponies try to rebound, their competition gets even tougher as they head to Miles City in search of their first win of the season.

The Ponies (0-1), who defeated Miles City 21-20 in the first round of the 2013 Class A state playoffs and also played to a 6-6 tie in a regular season game that was canceled due to weather last season in Havre, will have their work cut out for them tonight in Miles City. That's because the Cowboys (1-0) return a majority of their players from a season ago including All-State wide receiver Alec Haughian and All-State defensive end Beau Peaslee.

"They are a pretty tough, they are big, and they are physical. They have a very good quarterback and some very tall, athletic wide receivers," HHS head coach Jason Christenson said. "They have two very big backs that they will rely on a lot. They will mix it up but they are a typical Miles City team, they are going to run the ball a lot."

One player who did not return for Miles City was All-State quarterback Ben Herzog, but without him the Cowboys' offense didn't skip a beat in their opening game against Powell, Wyoming, defeating a traditional power in Wyoming high school football. Junior quarterback Matt Blunt, who took over the starting position, guided Miles City to a 43-7 win last Saturday. Haughian also had a key role in the win with 197 yards of total offense and four touchdowns.

The Ponies also possess a potent offense led by All-State quarterback Dane Warp, who threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns in the loss against Whitefish, as well as tailback Parker Filius, who had five receptions for 75 yards.

Unfortunately, HHS will be missing a key member of the offense as junior wide receiver Nate Rismon will be out for the remainder of the season with a broken leg. Rismon actually broke his leg in practice a week ago but did not realize it was broken until after playing in the game against Whitefish last Saturday. He had two receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown.

"You can't ever question his toughness," Christenson said. "Losing him hurts us because he is a big threat. He is a good wide receiver so that really hurts us and now we will have to take a younger kid in and get him coached up, but we are not going to change anything offensively."

Yet, losing Rismon will not only affect the offense, but he was also one of the team's best cornerbacks. So it means HHS will have to find a new starter at both wide receiver and cornerback.

The burden of filling in for Rismon will fall on the shoulders of sophomore Michael Loftus, who has great size and athleticism but lacks game experience.

"Michael has really good speed; he is a track guy," Christenson said. "We just have to coach him up and do our best to get him ready. He made some young mistakes against Whitefish, but he has an impressive physique for just being a sophomore."

Regardless of what happens in the passing game for the Ponies, the team must produce better results in the running game if they are going to compete with the Cowboys. Last week, Havre managed just 19 yards on 22 carries, which is something Christenson said cannot continue.

"We have been working with the offensive line and last week was their first game, too. We need to do a better job of putting them in a position to be successful," Christenson said. "As long as our running backs keeping running hard, eventually they will break one. Our rushing yards will get back up there, we just had an off day."

Leading the charge for Havre on defense will be senior Tyrell Pierce, who notched two sacks against Whitefish, as well as Filius and Gunner Aageson, who will be at middle linebacker again this week after a sack against the Bulldogs.

The defense will need to be stout as the Ponies are embarking on the second game of a highly difficult nonconference schedule. Even though they are desperate to get their first win of the season, Christenson knows the games that matter will come later. For now, he enjoys the challenge of putting his team against some of the toughest football teams Class A has to offer.

"Our nonconference schedule is tough and (Miles City) is going to be a test," Christenson said. "Obviously we want to win every game we play and that will always be our goal. But as long as the kids keep improving and getting better every week, then we can get the wins when it really matters. But we definitely want to go out there and a get a win and get that monkey off our back."

Kickoff between the Ponies and Cowboys is set for tonight at 6. in Miles City. Havre will then return home to face Sidney next Friday here at Blue Pony Stadium.