Blue Ponies ground Eagles

Blue Ponies

ground Eagles

Daniel Horton

The Havre High football team was back to playing with a pep in its step this weekend.

And with several more big plays going in their favor, the Blue Ponies chalked another one up in the win column.

On the road in Sidney, the Central A Ponies improved their record to 2-1 with a 21-14 win over the Eastern A Sidney Eagles Friday night.

"The kids played pretty well," Havre High head coach Jason Christenson said. "It was a battle all four quarters. We got down early, but our kids kept fighting back, playing hard and we ended up getting them in the end."

Both teams went scoreless in the first quarter, but in the second the Ponies were able to grab a 14-7 lead.

The Eagles' score came on a six–yard run by Ryan Sullivan, but the Ponies two touchdown trips came in the air.

Havre quarterback Justin Jensen connected with two different targets in the second quarter. Brandon Smith reeled in the first pass for a five-yard score, and first-year senior Kade Barsotti put HHS in the books again with a 67-yard score caught off of a tipped ball by Ryan Brandt.

Barsotti has been a standout cross-country runner for the Ponies in years past, but on Friday he began his legacy as a Pony football player.

"It's nice to have that athleticism as sort of a back up role," Christenson said. "He has come a long way and is coming along week-to-week. It was kind of a funny play, it tipped off of Brandt's hands and Barsotti just happened to be there. And nobody was going to touch him, he hit fifth gear and took off, he's got some wheels.

"You create your own luck," Christenson added. "And I am a strong believer in that. He was in the right place at the right time."

The third quarter went a little like the second.

The Eagles came out and shaved nearly seven minutes off the clock on a drive that resulted in a game-tying touchdown by Colton Herbert. But the Ponies once again benefited on a big play. On just the fourth play of the ensuing drive, Jensen connected with Corderro Strickland on a 60-yard touchdown pass to regain the lead.

"It seems like we don't take a whole lot of time off the clock," Christenson said. "It seems like it's one big play after another. We have to get better at sustaining drives and do a little better job of clock management. But this is football and we will take what we can get."

And the Blue Pony defense was making big plays as well.

The Sidney offense had five turnovers on the night. The Ponies' Logan Connor had three interceptions while Casey Schaub forced two turnovers. And with the game on the line late in the fourth quarter, one of Schaub's forced fumbles may have very well been a game saver.

The Eagles started a drive on their own 25-yard line and steadily advanced. Big runs by Sullivan and Josh Torgerson helped push the Eagles over midfield. And with a mix of run and pass plays, the Eagles reached the Ponies' six-yard-line. But a sack by Brandon Brostrom pushed the Eagles back and eventually resulted in a turnover on downs.

The Ponies punted on the ensuing possession, but their defense stepped up again.

This time around it was Schaub's forced fumble that was recoverd by Eli Hinebauch with 1:16 left in the game that sealed the win for the Ponies.

"We had a couple hiccups," Christenson said. "But one of our defensive goals is to hold opponents to 14 points or less. We did meet that goal, and the kids played hard. The defense really stepped up big."

Overall it was a good win for the Ponies. They captured a nonconference win over an always tough opponent and hopefully grabbed some confidence and momentum heading into the Central A Conference schedule.

"Sidney is always a tough contest." Christenson said. "The kids maintained their focus and really played a great game. I think it went a long way to boost up their confidence, and now we will take that into the conference schedule."

Friday the Ponies (2-1) are back on the road where they kick off their conference schedule in Lewistown against the Golden Eagles.

Havre 21, Sidney 14

Havre 0 14 7 0 — 21

Sidney 0 7 7 0 — 14

SID — Ryan Sullivan 6 run (Josh Torgerson kick)

HAV — Brandon Smith 5 pass from Justin Jensen (kick blocked)

HAV — Kade Barsotti 67 pass from Justin Jensen (Logan Connor 2 pass from Justin Jensen)

SID — Colton Herbert 2 run (Josh Torgerson kick)

HAV — Corderro Strickland 60 pass from Justin Jensen (Danny Roe kick).

No Individual Stats Reported.

The Havre High football team was back to playing with a pep in its step this weekend.

And with several more big plays going in their favor, the Blue Ponies chalked another one up in the win column.

On the road in Sidney, the Central A Ponies improved their record to 2-1 with a 21-14 win over the Eastern A Sidney Eagles Friday night.

"The kids played pretty well," Havre High head coach Jason Christenson said. "It was a battle all four quarters. We got down early, but our kids kept fighting back, playing hard and we ended up getting them in the end."

Both teams went scoreless in the first quarter, but in the second the Ponies were able to grab a 14-7 lead.

The Eagles' score came on a six–yard run by Ryan Sullivan, but the Ponies two touchdown trips came in the air.

Havre quarterback Justin Jensen connected with two different targets in the second quarter. Brandon Smith reeled in the first pass for a five-yard score, and first-year senior Kade Barsotti put HHS in the books again with a 67-yard score caught off of a tipped ball by Ryan Brandt.

Barsotti has been a standout cross-country runner for the Ponies in years past, but on Friday he began his legacy as a Pony football player.

"It's nice to have that athleticism as sort of a back up role," Christenson said. "He has come a long way and is coming along week-to-week. It was kind of a funny play, it tipped off of Brandt's hands and Barsotti just happened to be there. And nobody was going to touch him, he hit fifth gear and took off, he's got some wheels.

"You create your own luck," Christenson added. "And I am a strong believer in that. He was in the right place at the right time."

The third quarter went a little like the second.

The Eagles came out and shaved nearly seven minutes off the clock on a drive that resulted in a game-tying touchdown by Colton Herbert. But the Ponies once again benefited on a big play. On just the fourth play of the ensuing drive, Jensen connected with Corderro Strickland on a 60-yard touchdown pass to regain the lead.

"It seems like we don't take a whole lot of time off the clock," Christenson said. "It seems like it's one big play after another. We have to get better at sustaining drives and do a little better job of clock management. But this is football and we will take what we can get."

And the Blue Pony defense was making big plays as well.

The Sidney offense had five turnovers on the night. The Ponies' Logan Connor had three interceptions while Casey Schaub forced two turnovers. And with the game on the line late in the fourth quarter, one of Schaub's forced fumbles may have very well been a game saver.

The Eagles started a drive on their own 25-yard line and steadily advanced. Big runs by Sullivan and Josh Torgerson helped push the Eagles over midfield. And with a mix of run and pass plays, the Eagles reached the Ponies' six-yard-line. But a sack by Brandon Brostrom pushed the Eagles back and eventually resulted in a turnover on downs.

The Ponies punted on the ensuing possession, but their defense stepped up again.

This time around it was Schaub's forced fumble that was recoverd by Eli Hinebauch with 1:16 left in the game that sealed the win for the Ponies.

"We had a couple hiccups," Christenson said. "But one of our defensive goals is to hold opponents to 14 points or less. We did meet that goal, and the kids played hard. The defense really stepped up big."

Overall it was a good win for the Ponies. They captured a nonconference win over an always tough opponent and hopefully grabbed some confidence and momentum heading into the Central A Conference schedule.

"Sidney is always a tough contest." Christenson said. "The kids maintained their focus and really played a great game. I think it went a long way to boost up their confidence, and now we will take that into the conference schedule."

Friday the Ponies (2-1) are back on the road where they kick off their conference schedule in Lewistown against the Golden Eagles.

Havre 21, Sidney 14

Havre 0 14 7 0 — 21

Sidney 0 7 7 0 — 14

SID — Ryan Sullivan 6 run (Josh Torgerson kick)

HAV — Brandon Smith 5 pass from Justin Jensen (kick blocked)

HAV — Kade Barsotti 67 pass from Justin Jensen (Logan Connor 2 pass from Justin Jensen)

SID — Colton Herbert 2 run (Josh Torgerson kick)

HAV — Corderro Strickland 60 pass from Justin Jensen (Danny Roe kick).

No Individual Stats Reported.