Locomotives picking up steam

Looking back, the 2002 Laurel Locomotives football season began much like the way the Havre Blue Ponies' did. Ultimately they both rebounded and now find themselves set to do battle this Saturday in Havre for the 2002 Class A state football championship.

But if you had asked first-year Laurel head coach Mike Ludwig if he thought his team was going to be in the big dance after its first three games, the answer would not have been a confidence-inspiring "yes."

The Locomotives started off the season with a tight 21-14 win over Billings Central, but then dropped two consecutive nonconference games...