Blue Ponies roll

Daniel Horton, Havre Daily News

When the Havre High football team finds a way to win, the Blue Ponies win big.

For the second time this season the Central A Ponies completely manhandled the competition on their way to a victory.

Friday night in Lewistown, the Ponies defeated the Lewistown Golden Eagles 42-0 in conference play. It was the Ponies' first conference game of the season, and with the win it gives them a 1-0 conference record as well as a 3-1 record overall. The Eagles are 0-4.

The Ponies have found a lot of success on the ground as well as through the air this season.

Casey Schaub is running hard out of the backfield, and when quarterback Justin Jensen is on, he looks to be very dangerous, utilizing several members of his receiving corps. But one thing is certain, whether the Ponies are pounding the ball up the middle or launching the ball down field, Havre has lived off of the big play this season.

"We had two or three really big plays," Havre High head coach Jason Christenson said. "But we have receivers like Logan Connor and Corderro Strickland with good speed. They get down the field and get open, if they can break a tackle, it might be a 15-yard pass, but they are turning it into a big play.

"And we are trying to get Schaub as many touches as we can," Christenson added. "He runs hard and it's good to have a fullback with that kind of speed and who runs with that much power. He's a good runner and we are going to continue to use him."

Facing the Eagles, the Ponies took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. HHS had an even better second quarter and put up 21 points to take a 35-0 lead into the locker room at the half. The Ponies had no scores in the third quarter, but added one more in the fourth en route to a very one-sided conference win.

It seems Logan Connor and Corderro Strickland have emerged as Jensen's favorable targets. They have both been on the receiving end of several touchdown passes this season, and were on the end of three more on Friday. Connor's score came in the first quarter on a 62-yard touchdown pass, the longest score of the game. And Strickland reeled in two TD passes himself. His first came in the first quarter when he and Jensen connected for a 60-yard score, and Strickland's second came in the second frame from 21 yards out.

But the Pony ground game also saw more big plays this weekend.

Schaub continued his high level of play with yet another solid performance. He rushed eight times for 71 yards and even punched in a touchdown in the second quarter from 44 yards out.

Jonathan Austin also scored for the Ponies. In the fourth quarter Austin rushed for an 18-yard touchdown. Austin rushed four times for a total of 19 yards.

The Blue Pony defense was also a force to be reckoned with.

Along side their four-quarter shutout of the Eagles, the Pony defense also held the Eagles to negative four yards rushing. The Ponies also allowed the Eagle's offense to move into HHS territory on only one drive.

Schaub led the defense with 12 total tackles. He had two sacks, one forced fumble and five of his tackles were for a loss. Brandon Brostrom followed Schaub with six individual tackles. And Drew Kafka had a fumble recovery while Austin had an interception.

"The defense really rose to the occasion," Christenson said. "The kids are fired up and they just came out with reckless abandonment. We had their quarterback (Chance Corry) on the run pretty much the entire night. Our guys were just relentless."

Friday night was a solid conference win for the Ponies in their first conference outing of the season. And with the Ponies being big on momentum, they are eager to take the field again next weekend.

"It's a big confidence booster heading into next week winning the way we did," Christenson said. "Every game is important in the conference, and right now they are having fun. They are excited for next week. We love challenges and we want to take on the best teams in the state and play well against them. Butte Central is one of the best teams in the state and we are excited."

Friday night the Ponies will host the Maroons at Blue Pony stadium for the HHS homecoming game.

Ponies 42, Lewistown 0

Havre 14 21 0 7 — 42

Lewistown 0 0 0 0 — 0

Havre — Logan Connor 62 pass from Justin Jensen (Dennie Lohman kick)

Havre — Corderro Strickland 60 pass from Jensen (Lohman good)

Havre — Fumble recovery in endzone (Lohman kick)

Havre — Casey Schaub 44 run (Lohman good)

Havre — Strickland 21 pass from Jensen (Lohman kick)

Havre — Jonathan Austin 18 run (Lohman good)

Havre Individual Stats

Rushing — Casey Schaub 8-71, John Austin 4-19

Passing — Justin Jensen 15-20-213

Receiving — Logan Connor 6-117, Corderro Strickland 3-71.

When the Havre High football team finds a way to win, the Blue Ponies win big.

For the second time this season the Central A Ponies completely manhandled the competition on their way to a victory.

Friday night in Lewistown, the Ponies defeated the Lewistown Golden Eagles 42-0 in conference play. It was the Ponies' first conference game of the season, and with the win it gives them a 1-0 conference record as well as a 3-1 record overall. The Eagles are 0-4.

The Ponies have found a lot of success on the ground as well as through the air this season.

Casey Schaub is running hard out of the backfield, and when quarterback Justin Jensen is on, he looks to be very dangerous, utilizing several members of his receiving corps. But one thing is certain, whether the Ponies are pounding the ball up the middle or launching the ball down field, Havre has lived off of the big play this season.

"We had two or three really big plays," Havre High head coach Jason Christenson said. "But we have receivers like Logan Connor and Corderro Strickland with good speed. They get down the field and get open, if they can break a tackle, it might be a 15-yard pass, but they are turning it into a big play.

"And we are trying to get Schaub as many touches as we can," Christenson added. "He runs hard and it's good to have a fullback with that kind of speed and who runs with that much power. He's a good runner and we are going to continue to use him."

Facing the Eagles, the Ponies took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. HHS had an even better second quarter and put up 21 points to take a 35-0 lead into the locker room at the half. The Ponies had no scores in the third quarter, but added one more in the fourth en route to a very one-sided conference win.

It seems Logan Connor and Corderro Strickland have emerged as Jensen's favorable targets. They have both been on the receiving end of several touchdown passes this season, and were on the end of three more on Friday. Connor's score came in the first quarter on a 62-yard touchdown pass, the longest score of the game. And Strickland reeled in two TD passes himself. His first came in the first quarter when he and Jensen connected for a 60-yard score, and Strickland's second came in the second frame from 21 yards out.

But the Pony ground game also saw more big plays this weekend.

Schaub continued his high level of play with yet another solid performance. He rushed eight times for 71 yards and even punched in a touchdown in the second quarter from 44 yards out.

Jonathan Austin also scored for the Ponies. In the fourth quarter Austin rushed for an 18-yard touchdown. Austin rushed four times for a total of 19 yards.

The Blue Pony defense was also a force to be reckoned with.

Along side their four-quarter shutout of the Eagles, the Pony defense also held the Eagles to negative four yards rushing. The Ponies also allowed the Eagle's offense to move into HHS territory on only one drive.

Schaub led the defense with 12 total tackles. He had two sacks, one forced fumble and five of his tackles were for a loss. Brandon Brostrom followed Schaub with six individual tackles. And Drew Kafka had a fumble recovery while Austin had an interception.

"The defense really rose to the occasion," Christenson said. "The kids are fired up and they just came out with reckless abandonment. We had their quarterback (Chance Corry) on the run pretty much the entire night. Our guys were just relentless."

Friday night was a solid conference win for the Ponies in their first conference outing of the season. And with the Ponies being big on momentum, they are eager to take the field again next weekend.

"It's a big confidence booster heading into next week winning the way we did," Christenson said. "Every game is important in the conference, and right now they are having fun. They are excited for next week. We love challenges and we want to take on the best teams in the state and play well against them. Butte Central is one of the best teams in the state and we are excited."

Friday night the Ponies will host the Maroons at Blue Pony stadium for the HHS homecoming game.

Ponies 42, Lewistown 0

Havre 14 21 0 7 — 42

Lewistown 0 0 0 0 — 0

Havre — Logan Connor 62 pass from Justin Jensen (Dennie Lohman kick)

Havre — Corderro Strickland 60 pass from Jensen (Lohman good)

Havre — Fumble recovery in endzone (Lohman kick)

Havre — Casey Schaub 44 run (Lohman good)

Havre — Strickland 21 pass from Jensen (Lohman kick)

Havre — Jonathan Austin 18 run (Lohman good)

Havre Individual Stats

Rushing — Casey Schaub 8-71, John Austin 4-19

Passing — Justin Jensen 15-20-213

Receiving — Logan Connor 6-117, Corderro Strickland 3-71.