Ponies' season on the line in Livingston

So far this season, tonight's football game will be the most important game for the Havre High Blue Ponies.

Sitting at 2-1 in the Central A conference, and currently in third place, the Ponies' postseason hopes are on the line. Tonight they will battle the first-place, Livingston Rangers (3-0) in Livingston, knowing a Blue Pony win will ensure a postseason berth for the Ponies, and even possibly a conference title for the second straight season.

"Our focus is on the fact that the conference championship is still on the line," Havre High head coach Jason Christenson said. "This is a must win for us, and that is what we are focused on. We still believe we can win the conference."

But first things first, if the Ponies can manage a win tonight, nothing else will matter. A win will ensure a post season for the Ponies, no matter what happens anywhere else.

But Livingston is the No. 1 team for a reason, they are talented, and run the ball very well.

In their win over Lewistown last weekend, the Rangers rushed the ball 55 times for 387 total yards and three scores. They passed the ball just seven times for 56 yards and one score. Senior running backs Shanon Williams and Brandon Toney carry the ball, and the load for the Rangers. They lead the offense week in and week out, making quarterback Austin Carroll's job very simple.

"They like to line up and run right at you," Christenson said. "And they have the horses to run this year, so they are. They are big upfront and they pound the football, and that is what we expect to see out of them."

Defense is going to be crucial tonight for the Blue Ponies.

They have been able to stop the passing game more often than the running game this season, making tonight even more important for the defense to step up. Safeties Chet Shrauger and Ned Malone will need to have big game, as will linebackers like Jake Williams, Jordan Schroeder and Tyrell Pierce. And though they have struggled to stop the run this season, the Ponies haven't added any new wrinkles the game plan. Instead, they just refocused, and know it is going to take tough play to get the job done.

"We are just going to run our same defensive fronts," Christenson said. "We just have our safeties and linebackers keying and filling a lot more crisp this week, so the safeties will be a big factor this week."'

Zach Plum will also look to have another big game all around. Last weekend he tied Marc Mariani's interception record with nine on the season. But he also tied Coda Tchida's school records with four touchdown receptions in a game, as well as broke Mariani's and Jared Wirt's record for receiving yards in a game. Plum reeled in 241 yards, breaking the record set at 228 yards.

On offense, the Ponies are also not looking to add any new wrinkles to the game plan. They hope to continue finding success through the air, as well keep trying to get the running game on track. Schroeder got his first real taste handling the ball out of the backfield last weekend, and rose to the occasion. Last weekend he rushed 11 times for 128 yards.

Dane Warp could also have another big game from the quarterback position, as he and receivers like Thomas Gruber, Plum, and Thurman Holdsclaw have really come on strong this season.

"We have fine tuned what we have been doing well," Christenson said. "We just want to keep building, and just keep working on our run game. Livingston is big upfront, so we might not see that success on the ground that we want, but we are going to keep with it and keep plugging away.

"(Schroeder) has really stepped up for us," Christenson added. "He had limited reps, but learned our offense well. And it is a complex offense, as far as learning where he needs to be, and he picked it up fairly quick. He is a great athlete and he will get some carries again this weekend."

Tonight the Ponies are playing for their season. A win ensures a postseason appearance, while a loss could result in the season coming to a screeching halt.

"We just need to play with the attitude that we need to win this game," Christenson said. "And everything else will take care of itself."

The Ponies and Rangers will kickoff tonight at 7 in Livingston.

Playoff Hopes

Havre High's Thomas Gruber hauls in a pass during last Friday night's Central A Conference football game against Browning at Blue Pony Stadium. The Blue Ponies take a three-game winning streak into tonight's regular season finale at Livingston.

Havre at Livingston

Tonight, 7 p.m.

in Livingston