Friday Night Lights: Blue Ponies in the driver's seat for the Central A title

Havre High senior Mark Vukasin tracks down a Whitefish receiver during a Class A football game earlier this year in Havre. The Ponies are battling for first place in the Central A.

With just two conference games left to be played by the Havre High football team, there is a lot on the line.

With a 2-0 conference record the Blue Ponies are leading the Central A. But the Livingston Rangers are also 2-0 and are challenging the Ponies for sole ownership of the No. 1 seed.

Tonight's game is crucial for the Ponies.

Playing on the road, the Ponies are looking to defeat the Browning Indians and move to 3-0. But the Rangers are also playing Lewistown tonight and what they do affects the Ponies as well. If the Ponies win and the Rangers lose HHS will be the No. 1 team by themselves. And if both teams win, the tie will continue into the last game of the regular season when the Ponies and Rangers face off in Havre next Friday.

And if the Ponies somehow drop one or both games, and the Rangers win out then there is a whole list of things that could happen. But the Ponies are hoping that it doesn't come to that, knowing they have two winnable games ahead of them and that they control their own destiny.

"Winning the conference has been our goal all year long," Havre High head coach Jason Christenson said. "And it is really important because we would get a first round bye and that gives any guys who are kind of banged up time to heal and rest. We would also get to play a No. 2 or No. 3 team here in Havre and that is huge getting to play in front of your home crowd.

A No. 1 finish and a first-round bye in the Class A playoffs would make for a favorable road for the Ponies. They would get a game at home, as well as plenty of time to prepare for the winner of the game between the No. 2 Southwest team and No. 3 Northwest team. The Ponies have already clinched a at least a playoff spot.

"If you are the No. 1 seeded team, I wouldn't say the road is easy," Christenson said. "But it does make things easier. That first round bye and then getting to play at home is always important."