Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Jase Kato, Havre Football

Time is a funny thing. Sometimes it seems like it will go on forever and other times it won’t stand still. For high school athletes like Havre’s Jase Kato, four years can go by in a flash, making a high school athletic career nothing but a memory.

Thankfully, Kato is not done competing yet and if he has anything to say about it, the two-sport standout will have a few more football games to play before turning his attention to basketball this winter.

Kato, who starts at both tight end and outside linebacker for the Blue Ponies, will join his fellow seniors in playing their final game at Blue Pony Stadium against Browning Friday night, which is senior night.

HHS will clinch a berth in the Class A state playoffs with a win over Browning. However, the Ponies can do no better than third in the Central A conference, which means there is no possibility of a home playoff game. And if Havre does qualify for the postseason, a road playoff game against the second seed from the loaded Eastern A awaits.

The 6-3 tight end has served as a big, reliable target for quarterback Dane Warp and through eight games, Kato has hauled in 10 receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown. His best game as a receiver came against Miles City Sept. 5, during the second game of the season, when he caught three passes for 44 yards

Kato also had a solid game against Livingston back on Sept. 26, when he caught two passes for 19 yards and a touchdown in a 52-27 road win over the Rangers. Defensively, his finest hour came last Friday, when he intercepted a pass against Polson in a 39-21 Havre victory. He also had six tackles and a key fumble recovery in a 40-27 loss to Belgrade Sept. 26 at Blue Pony Stadium.

While his football career is winding down, Kato also has to look forward to his senior season on the hardwood. Last year, he was part of the team that qualified for the Class A state basketball tournament and will look to aid the Ponies’ effort to return there again in 2015.

Yet, right now, the focus is on football and clinching a playoff spot. It may not have been a dominant season for HHS but getting into the postseason is what matters, and Kato knows, after that anything can happen.

Before the Ponies do battle with the Indians Friday and try to

finalize their spot in the playoffs, the Havre Daily News caught up with Kato for five questions.

HDN: What has been your favorite part of playing football for the Blue Ponies?

Kato: “I think just being with your friends. I didn’t really know a lot of kids coming from St. Jude’s. I think there is four or five of us on the team right now, but I got to know all of the other kids, and it’s been a really fun experience.”

HDN: Which position do you prefer, tight end or outside linebacker?

Kato: “Coming into the year, I thought it would be tight end. But, I think I have really become more of a defensive player. I didn’t really expect to play defense this year, we had three starters and two of them coming back. One got hurt and one got moved to defensive end, so I was kind of pushed into the position, but I have really come to enjoy it. “

HDN: What has been your favorite moment playing football for the Ponies?

Kato: “It was definitely being a part of the playoff win (21-20 over Miles City in Havre) last year. I was only in for a few plays but I was in for part of it. We were down 20-7 at the half and came back to beat a team that everybody thought was going to beat us pretty good.”

HDN: Who is a professional athlete that you admire or model yourself after?

Kato: “For basketball my favorite player is Kevin Durant. I don’t really play like him, I can’t shoot like he does, but I really enjoy watching him play.”

HDN: What do you think you guys need to do to make a run in the Class A playoffs?

Kato: “I think we need to take care of our mistakes. Not just penalties but on defense when we get aligned wrong or make the wrong reads and that leads to big plays, which can really kill you.”