Friday Night Lights: This Game is Special

There is something special about playing high school football. For some it's about college scholarships and winning state championships. For others, the value is much more intrinsic. It's about living a dream, playing under the lights a Friday night, representing yourself, your school and your community.

For Havre High senior Rocky Kuhr, there is no college scholarship at the end of his football rainbow. There may not be any awards or honors that follow his career, but that doesn't matter. He has already achieved one of his biggest goals as a football player, and he did that by becoming the starting center for the Blue Ponies this season.

Some high school players get to start at the varsity level for multiple years, but they are few and far between. The majority of high school players are just like Kuhr. They work hard and after two or three years they finally get their chance to shine.

"I started playing football in about sixth grade," Kuhr said. "So it's been something that I have wanted for a long time. It's nice to be able to start. It's nice to see that all the work that I have put in over the last three or four years has paid off.

"I have grown up seeing guys play for the Ponies, and it's nice to be able to contribute at the varsity level and be part of that elite group of players that plays for the Ponies," he added.

As the starting center, Kuhr's job is not an easy one. He does much more than snap the ball, he is also in charge of the protection of All-State quarterback Dane Warp. But one thing that has made playing center easier for Kuhr is his friendship with Warp.

"As soon as Dane started playing quarterback we became great friends," Kuhr said. "I thought, it's my senior season, I am the only center left, I have to start, I have to protect (Warp) and not let him get hurt. He's our whole football team."

The relationship between a quarterback and his center is crucial. They have to be on the same page and according to Kuhr, they are. But, when adjustments are needed, the two are able to get on the same page, with honest, open communication.

"I know that I can tell Dane anything, and he knows that he can tell me anything," Kuhr said. "If we are having problems, I can tell him what (the offensive line) is seeing and he can tell me what he is seeing from the quarterback's prospective."

But beyond just trying to protect Warp by blocking the man in front of him, as the center Kuhr is essentially the quarterback of the offensive line, meaning he is responsible for the protection calls and the adjustments.

"As a center, I pretty much make all the (offensive line) calls," Kuhr said. "What I see is what goes. I make the call if we are going to fan to the left or right, who I am going to pick up and who the rest of the line is going to pick up."

Unfortunately for Kuhr, his season in the spotlight has not gone as planned, as the Ponies have struggled to a 2-5 record. Yet, with two games to go, HHS is still very much in the thick of the playoff hunt and according to Kuhr, there is still plenty to play for.

"First off, we need to win, we need to finish out games." Kuhr said. "Secondly, as soon as we starting winning, who knows what could happen. My hopes are still that we get a championship here. We just have to start playing like we can, because I know we can win, we just have to start performing like we need to in order to win."

The first order of business for Kuhr and the Ponies will be getting back on track tonight with a win against Polson at Blue Pony Stadium. Then comes the regular season finale next Friday when HHS will play host to Browning, in a game Havre needs to win to earn a berth in the Class A state playoffs.

Yet, regardless of what happens in the next two games, the Ponies can do no better than third in the Central A conference, meaning next Friday will be the final time Kuhr and his fellow seniors play under the lights at Blue Pony Stadium. A fact that is not lost on Kuhr as he plays out the final games of the high school career that has meant so much to him.

"It's been great playing at (Blue Pony Stadium)," Kuhr said. "It's a great stadium, a great place to play, great fans and in my last two games, I hope we can get a giant crowd and go out with a bang."

Havre High/Polson Starters

Havre Offense

Dane Warp, QB, Jr.

Parker Filius, TB, So.

Kody Pribyl, FB, Jr.

Jase Kato, TE, Sr.

Rocky Kuhr, C, Sr.

Michael Compton, OG, Sr.

Cole Keller, OG, Jr.

Travis Adams, OT, Jr.

Derrick Matosich, OT, Sr.

Alec Drew, WR, Sr.

Isaac Warp, WR, So.

Jacob Labrie, WR, So.

Havre Defense

Jase Kato, OLB, Sr.

Gunnar Aageson, OLB, Sr.

Jase Stokes, MLB, So.

Jace Billy, DE, Sr.

Reuben Stewart, DT, Sr.

Jose Emge, DE, Sr.

Travis Adams, DT, Jr.

Parker Filius, S, So.

Kody Pribyl, S, Jr.

Michael Loftus, CB, So.

Jacob Labrie CB, So.

Polson Offense

Justin Brester, LT, SR.

Jonah Burke, LG, So.

Nick Marquardt, C, Jr.

Justin Young, RG, So.

Kaleb Auld, RT, SR.

Wyatt Ducharme, QB, Jr.

Joe Gallatin, RB, Sr.

Bridger Rowley, FB, SR.

Matthew Rensvold, TE, So.

Jacob Harrod, WR, Jr.

Polson Defense

Tim Russell, OLB, So.

Joe Gallatin, OLB, SR.

Trevor Corley, NG, So.

Mike Corrigan, DE, Jr.

Justin Young, DE, So.

Matthew Rensvold, ILB, So.

Jonah Burke, ILB, So.

Walter Wood, SS, So.

Jacob Harrod, FS, Jr.

Andrew Curley, CB, Sr.

Cadis Chowning, CB, So.