News you can use

Finale: Ponies tangle with rival Cowboys

Week Nine: Last Chance

As the Havre High football team enters the last week of the season, the Blue Ponies are still searching for their first win. And if they are going to get it, they will need to beat one of the hottest teams in Class A football.

While the Ponies come into tonight's game 0-8, the Miles City Cowboys are 6-2 and they got there by winning six straight, including a 28-0 stomping over Sidney last week. Kickoff between the two Eastern A rivals is set for tonight at 6 in Miles City.

"Miles City is a really good football team," HHS head coach Ryan Gatch said. "They are probably playing as well as any team in our conference right now. So it's going to be a big challenge for us."

Winning on the road is always difficult, but over the years, winning in Miles City has been particularly hard for HHS, which has lost its last few trips there including a playoff loss in overtime back in 2014.

What will make it even more challenging is the Cowboys, who have been on a roll since starting the season 0-2. Since losing to Laurel and Billings Central to open the season, Miles City has been dominant. The Cowboys have surrendered a total of 30 points in six games and have three shutouts. They were a safety away against Lewistown from having four.

In the last five games, they have allowed just 16 points and two touchdowns and that's against three playoff teams (Glendive, Sidney, Lewistown). Offensively, they are averaging 31.5 points per game, giving them an average margin of victory in their win streak of 26 points.

"They do a really good job defensively," Gatch said. "Sidney is a really good team running the football and (Miles City) did a good job containing them, so we will have our work cut out for us. The biggest thing for us, like it has been all year, is we need to take care of the football."

In recent weeks, the Ponies have done a better job managing turnovers. Quarterback Trey Murphy threw just one interception against Livingston and has had only four during the final month of the season.

Havre has had issues moving the ball consistently though, but when it has been able, it's been by throwing the ball to senior Ivar Aageson and junior Ethan Roberts. Both have exceeded 500 yards receiving this season and have the ability to make things happen after the catch. Each will be counted to generate some explosive plays if HHS is going to crack the Miles City defense.

Another big key for the Ponies will be pass protection. Due to injuries, Havre has had to shuffle some guys around, meaning players are starting and playing in positions they aren't used to.

"We have really had that next-man-up mentality," Gatch said. "We have had to move a lot of guys around and they have really stepped up. They haven't complained and they have competed. So that's good to see. And Trey has done a great job back there and has been a great leader for us."

When Havre is on defense the key will be slowing down a Miles City ground game that has racked up more than 250 yards per game in consecutive games.

Leading the way for the Pony defense will be Aageson and Roberts at safety, as well as Brady Ophus and Jacob Irvin at corner. Jazz Schroeder, Dawson Kinsella and Mason Dionne will play key roles at linebacker, along with Tanner Parsons, Taylor Gopher and Austin Ratliff up front.

In terms of the playoff race, Miles City doesn't have much to gain. Either way, they will be the third or fourth place team in the Eastern A, meaning they will have to play in the first week of the Class A playoffs. Depending on how things shake out, Miles City will play either Lewistown or Glendive.

Havre's playoff hopes faded a long time ago, but the Ponies still have plenty riding on this game. Havre will be looking to avoid its first winless season since 1963.

"It would be great if we could go out and beat a team like Miles City," Gatch said. "That's the great thing about our conference, you get to play a good team every week. Our conference (the Central A) obviously has some work to do to catch up to these Eastern A schools, but our goal is always to be 1-0 and that's what we are hoping to achieve this week."

Havre and Miles City will kickoff tonight at 6 in Miles City.

Havre Blue Ponies

(0-8) Lost to Park High last week

at Miles City Cowboys

(6-2) defeated Sidney last week

Tonight at 6 p.m.

in Miles City

Radio: 610 KOJM AM

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 
Rendered 02/18/2024 14:59