Blue Ponies hope to ground Eagles

Tonight at the Blue Pony Stadium in Havre, two winless teams will line up across from each other under the lights. And while both teams enter the contest winless, one Class A team will earn its first win of the season.

The Havre High Blue Ponies will host the Sidney Eagles tonight at. The Central A Ponies are 0-3 and the Eastern A Eagles are 0-2, leaving two young teams very hungry for their first win.

Havre High head coach Jason Christenson hopes a good week of practice and home field advantage will be the edge his Ponies need to get that win.

"They have to travel all they way from Sidney," Christenson said. "And we are sleeping in our beds and don't have to get up early and drive. We are playing in front of our own fans, and I think that the Havre fans are some of the best in the state. I think that is important and the kids are fired up, they want a win, and they are so close. They are improving every week and are ready to start getting wins."

But first things first, the Pony defense has to attempt to stop another team that loves the running game.

Sidney is young, but strong. And HHS is fully expecting a heavy dose of run plays, especially with sophomore quarterback Gresh Jones taking over the starting job due to injury. It is only Jones' second start after taking over for senior Justin Brown. Brown is done for the season after a severe concussion in week one.

But junior Jordan Stevens is running at 100 percent, and will be a handful for the defense. Last weekend Jones ran for 119 yards in a shutout loss last Friday night againes the Central A Lewistown Golden Eagles.

"We are really focusing on stopping the run and taking that away from their game plan," Christenson said. "Hopefully they will have to go to the air. We made some assignment adjustments with our down linemen, linebackers, and safeties, and they will be keying on some different people than they have in the past. Hopefully that will be the difference, and we just have to focus on taking their best weapon away, and that is that kid (Stevens)."

If the Ponies can force the Eagles to go to the air, then ball hawks, Zach Plum, Thomas Gruber, Chet Shrauger, and Ned Malone could have a dominating night. Plum, Gruber and Shrauger already have at least one interception each, while Malone has come close on a number of plays. HHS could thrive if they force the Eagles' young QB to make some mistakes in the passing game, especially if Sidney has to play from behind.

"We have worked a lot with the whole defensive backfield," Christenson said. "They are geared up and they are going to come up and stick some people on the run as well."

For the HHS offense, it is simple, they just have to know their assignments and execute.

Going back to the basics has been a theme for the Ponies thus far, and that was the focus again. The offense ahs put up decent numbers already this season, but are now looking to find the end zone a few more times tonight. This week in practice, the Ponies broke down every formation and play in their regime. They ran each play at three quarter, half, and full speed, and now feel like they are aware and comfortable enough to find a little more success.

"We just refreshed the kids' minds and we have them going where they need to go," Christenson said. "I think more than ever, they are confident at what they are doing, where they are going, and what they are going to see. We really had to go back the drawing board, but I think the kids are executing much better, and hopefully that shows on the scoreboard."

Tonight the Ponies will face the Eagles at 7. at Blue Pony Stadium. The Ponies open Central A Conference play against Belgrade next Friday.

Havre High Starters

OFFENSE

Dane Warp, QB, FR

Tristan Manuel, RB, JR

Thurman Holdsclaw, RB, SR

Zach Plum, WR, SR

Thomas Gruber, WR, JR

Ned Malone, WR, JR

Jake Williams, TE, JR

Dustin Odegard, OL, SR

Travis Adams, OL, FR

Ruben Stewart, OL, SO

Tyler Adams, OL, JR

Rocky Kuhr, OL, SO

DEFENSE

Tyrell Pierce, LB, SO

Jordan Schroeder, LB, SO

Jake Williams, LB, JR

Chet Shrauger, DB, SR

Zach Plum, DB, SR

Ned Malone, DB, JR

Thurman Holdsclaw, DL, SR

Tyler Adams, DL, JR

Dustin Odegard, DL, SR

JT Belcourt, DL, FR

Sidney Starters

OFFENSE

Gresh Jones, QB, SO

Jordan Stevens, RB, JR

Logan Thiel, RB, SO

Caleb Benson, WR, JR

Brayden Rooks, WR, JR

Colton Moran, TE, SR

Lane Lyseng, SR, OL

Dace Fisher, OL, JR

Daulton King, OL, SR

Jim Topp, OL, SR

Josh Alexander, OL, JR

DEFENSE

Logan Thiel, LB, SO

Brandon Miller, LB, SR

Havre High quarterback Dane Warp (right) and the Blue Ponies are gunning for their first win of the season as they host the Sidney Eagles tonight at 7 at Blue Pony Stadium.

Caleb Benson, DB, JR

Gresh Jones, DB, SO

Jordan Stevens, DB, JR

Brayden Rooks, DB, JR

Colton Moran, DL, SR

Lane Lyseng, DL, SR

Dace Fisher, DL, JR

Daulton King, DL, SR

Jim Topp, DL, SR