Pony Extra: HHS receivers fight for every inch

There is no question, that there hasn't been some tough times for the Havre High football team this season. The Blue Ponies are 0-6 following Friday night's 54-14 loss to Sidney and have just three more chances to get into the winner's cirlce.

And while the Ponies may not have won any games yet this season, it doesn't mean the team isn't still battling. The last two weeks, against two playoff contenders - Glendive and Sidney, Havre has come out and taken a 7-0 lead. Against the Red Devils, Havre led in the third quarter and versus Sidney, the Ponies tied the score in the third quarter 14-14.

The final result against the Eagles was pretty lopsided, but for two and a half quarters, HHS hung tough against a team many feel is a state title contender. Part of what allowed the Ponies to stay in the game against Sidney, was the success of the passing attack, which is a credit to quarterback Trey Murphy, but also Havre's two elite receivers, Ivar Aageson and Ethan Roberts.

If there has been one thing the offense has been able to rely on this season for the Ponies, it has been the ability of both Aageson and Roberts to make big plays. At times, it has allowed Havre to stay in football games. Aageson, a senior, who has also played well on the defensive side of the ball at safety and corner, is having a standout season as a pass catcher. In six games, he has 39 receptions for 466 yards and three touchdowns. He also has a 72-yard touchdown run to his credit.

There are some spectacular wideouts in the Eastern A, but it's clear at this point in the season, that Aageson is right there among them.

But as good as Aageson has been, Roberts hasn't been far behind. The junior, who has also been one of the team's most productive tacklers at safety, has been a big-play machine for the Ponies. He made one of the season's most exciting plays with a 54-yard touchdown against Sidney that tied the game up with just more than seven minutes left in the third quarter.

Roberts started the season with 191 receiving yards in his first four games, but over the last two weeks, against Glendive and Sidney, his production has reached a whole new level. First, he racked up seven catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns against the Red Devils. Then, on homecoming night against Sidney, Roberts hauled in six more receptions for 127 yards. He also added a touchdown. So in the last two games, Roberts has caught 13 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns. For the season, he has 29 catches for 448 yards and five total tocuhdowns.

Of course, with Havre sitting at 0-6, who knows what type of postseason awards Roberts and Aageson will garner. Unfortunately, teams that finish near the top of the standings generally have more players that make All-Conference and All-State teams, but with Roberts and Aageson, there is no question that both deserve due consideration.

Certainly, Havre fans want their team to get into the win column, but they can take comfort in the fact that this team is still figthing and both Roberts and Aageson are among those fighting the hardest.

In just about every game this season, both players have done something spectacular. Whether it's Aageson skying for a jump ball or Roberts weaving his way through defenders after the catch, both have had made their fair share of big plays.

At the end of the day, individual accomplishments don't matter nearly as much as the team does, but with playmakers like Aageson and Roberts, Havre at least has a fighting chance in its final three games against Billings Central, Miles City and Livingston.

And no matter what the final result is, the ability of Roberts and Aageson, Murphy and others to consistently make big plays, even in adverse situations has been impressive. It's also been one of the bright spots in a season that, overall, hasn't had many.