Ponies ready for payback against Rangers

Homecoming is typically marked on everybody’s schedule, but tonight’s Central A matchup is a game that would have been marked on the Havre High football calendar, homecoming or not.

Tonight at 7, the Blue Ponies (1-2-1) will host the conference rival Livingston Rangers (0-4) at Blue Pony Stadium in Havre.

Homecoming adds a lot of extra excitement to tonight’s game, but so does the thought of revenge. Last year, in the regular season finale, the Rangers defeated the Ponies 62-43. And a very impressive running game was to blame for the lopsided victory. The Rangers had a record setting night as they rushed for a total of 603 yards and had two individual rushers finishes with more that 200 yards on the ground. Eight of the nine Livingston scores also came from the ground game, and fans can bank on the fact that the Ponies want to flip the script on Livingston tonight.

“This is a big game,” Havre High senior Thomas Gruber said. “And this will be good redemption if we can get a win. It will show that we aren’t the same team as last year, and we aren’t scared that they are going to run all over us. We are reevaluating what we are going to do, and we have our defense ready for their running game.”

Livingston isn’t quite the powerhouse it was a year ago, as the Rangers have yet to win a game this season, but they are sure to be a tough conference opponent.

And they still house some talented individuals including a 6-0, 206-pound senior tight end in Eugene Nelson. The Rangers also have a senior quarterback in Cade McOmber, as well as a senior running back in Gunnar Lehrer, who should carry the load tonight.

And after more than 600 yards of rushing in their last game against Havre, the Ponies will most likely take their chances with McOmber attempting to make plays with his arm, rather than the Livingston running backs having another career day.

Key components in stopping the run will be the defensive line, including big bodies like Tyler Adams and Dustin Odegard. But Jace Billy, Jake Williams, and Jordan Schroeder also have to step up from the linebacker position and make their presence felt. If the Rangers are forced to go to the air, the Ponies should have confidence in the defensive back abilities from Gruber, Trevor Jensen, Alec Drew, and Ned Malone, if he is back in lineup after seeing some practice time this week.

And while the Ponies have a great quarterback in Dane Warp, they are still out to prove they can be a ground-and-pound team as well.

Kody Pribyl, Jace Billy, and Tristan Manuel have garnered the majority of the carries this season, and the Ponies go into nearly every game with the goal of 200 total rushing yards. If HHS is able to add those yards on the ground to what they can accomplish through the air with Gruber, Malone, Nate Rismon, Parker Filius and the rest of the receivers, then the Ponies will be as balanced as it gets. Balance has been a goal of the Ponies all season long, and it will be again tonight against the Rangers, who have given up grand totals of 40 and 50 points to the opposition on two separate occasions this season.

Homecoming aside, the Ponies are out for revenge or redemption, however you look at it, but a conference win would be huge. Starting slow out of the regular season gate, a fast start out of the conference gate could be just what the Ponies need to get on track this season, especially coming off of a 33-0 shutout of Glendive last Friday night.

Tonight, the Blue Ponies will host the Rangers at 7 p.m. at Blue Pony Stadium in Havre.

Havre High

vs

Livingston

Tonight at 7 p.m.

Blue Pony Stadium

Radio: 610 KOJM AM