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Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Jared Sienkowski, Havre High Football

Ponies have a true big man paving the way

The last two seasons, the Havre High football team hasn’t had to wait long to play in front of its hometown fans at Blue Pony Stadium.

In both 2014 and 2015, the Ponies hosted the season opener, and last year, HHS had its first two games at home before hitting the road for the first time. This year, things have been different for Havre, with its first two games coming on the road. But on Friday, Havre will finally make its home debut at Blue Pony Stadium, when HHS will battle an old rival in Miles City. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Yet more has changed since last season than just the schedule. A year ago, with Dane Warp at quarterback, the Ponies ran a pass-happy offense. And, while that offense was highly successful, as the old saying goes, there is more than one way to skin a cat.

Make no mistake, Havre can still throw the football when it has to, but so far, through two games, the Ponies have rushed the football close to 70 times, compared to just 26 passes. With Jase Stokes and an impressive offensive line that features players like senior guard Jared Sienkowski, the ground game has turned into Havre’s bread and butter.

For Sienkowski and the other hogmollies up front, running the ball is always welcomed. Offensive lineman generally like to knock the snot out of people and blocking for a run play tends to make it much easier than a pass play, when sometimes offensive lineman are backing up trying to block defenders and protect the quarterback.

However, when your team runs the football, it allows the big guys up front to tee off a bit, which is what HHS has been doing thus far. Yet, Sienkowski and the Havre linemen aren’t just doing a great job helping the run game get going on offense, they are also doing a great job shutting down the run game of opponents.

As much as the run game is responsible for Havre’s success, the way the Pony defense has played might be even more important. So far, in two games, opposing offenses have made little headway. Whitefish just gained more than 150 yards against HHS and last week Hardin barely eclipsed 120.

The Havre defense has also given up just one touchdown. It has held its opponents scoreless in seven of the eight quarters it has played this season and it's allowing around 135 yards per game. In terms of opponents rushing yards, the Ponies are surrendering around 75 a game, which provides further evidence of how HHS has controlled the line of scrimmage.

Of course, in Havre it’s not an uncommon occurrence to find a football player that is also a wrestler. Sienkowski is one of those players and after duking it out with other heavyweights on the mat, he said he finds it easier to win his battles on the football field.

Sienkowski, who has competed at divisionals in each of the past three seasons but has yet to make it to the state wrestling tournament, said he and his football teammates are focused on getting the Ponies back to the playoffs and repeating as Central A Conference champs.

The Second-Team All-Conference guard will have a big role to play, if it does happen, as he starts both at guard and at nose tackle for HHS. But either way, when Havre takes the field Friday night at Blue Pony Stadium against Miles City, you will see a team ready to run the football and be physical. And you will see Sienkowski in the middle of it all.

Before the senior and his Pony teammates take on Miles City this Friday, the Havre Daily News caught with Sienkowski for five questions.

HDN: What’s been your favorite part about playing football at Havre High?

Sienkowski: “Just being able to play the game and my teammates.”

HDN: You guys are relying more on running the football this year, is that something that the offensive linemen enjoy?

Sienkowski: “It just feels good knowing when you can get yards running the ball.”

HDN: Which do you think is more difficult to complete, a football game or a six-minute wrestling match?

Sienkowski: “I think a wrestling match, just because it can be more intense.”

HDN: How big do you think it's been for you guys to have played so well on the offensive and defensive lines so far?

Sienkowski: “I think that it’s big. I think that we are definitely motivated to do something this year.”

HDN: How excited are you guys to play your first game of the season at Blue Pony Stadium?

Sienkowski: “We are very excited. It has been a long time coming so we will be ready to go.”

 

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