All In: Ponies aim to clinch tonight

The goal of every high school football team is to get into the playoffs. And despite struggling at times this season, the Havre Blue Ponies are just one win away from doing just that, getting back to the Class A State playoffs.

Tonight, the Ponies will play their final regular season game of the 2014 season, when they host Central A rival Browning inside Blue Pony Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7.

A win clinches the third seed in the Central A and gets Havre into the postseason. But, regardless of the result, it will be the last home game for HHS and its 11 seniors, who will be celebrated senior night.

“It’s very important to send those seniors out with a win in their last game at Blue Pony Stadium,” HHS head coach Jason Christenson said. “Hopefully, we can get a win and carry that momentum and those winning ways into the playoffs. We want to make sure this is not their last game period. And it’s always huge to get a home win and give those seniors the proper send off.”

Havre (3-5, 1-2) comes into tonight’s game feeling good about itself, following an impressive 39-21 victory over Polson last Friday in Havre. The win was key for Havre because it put an end to a two-game losing skid and gives HHS a chance to enter the playoffs with momentum, as well as a two-game winning streak.

The win over Polson was also significant for the Ponies not just because they won, but how they won. For much of the season, the Ponies have been pass-happy and have struggled to find balance. Yet, against the Pirates, HHS won because of its running game, not in spite of it, racking up an impressive 308 yards on the ground to go along with two rushing touchdowns.

“It was a nice surprise,” Christenson said of the team’s breakout performance on the ground against Polson. “We kind of saw it against Lewistown, and it was good to see our guys getting after it and our offensive line being aggressive. They were really firing off and opening up some holes, and our running backs hit the holes. But we are still going to keep throwing it and trying to stay as balanced as we possibly can.”

Last week, the Ponies had four runners gain more than 56 yards rushing and one of them happened to be quarterback Dane Warp, who also threw for 200 yards and four touchdowns in the win.

Warp has been stellar this season for the Ponies and has a total of 22 touchdown passes compared to just five interceptions. The junior signal caller will key a passing game that features a slew of talented receivers in Parker Filius, Isaac Warp and Jacob LaBrie.

Filius is currently leading the Central A conference in both receptions and receiving yards, with 53 catches for 618 yards. He has also scored a total of 11 touchdowns. Isaac Warp has emerged as a legitimate threat opposite Filius, while LaBrie is also coming off a breakout performance against Polson that included six receptions for 64 yards and two touchdowns.

Filius is also part of a three-headed monster at running back that includes fellow sophomore Jase Stokes and junior Kody Pribyl. Last week against Polson, the three of them combined to rush for 233 yards.

Stokes has also become an important part of the passing game out of the backfield and hauled in four passes for 28 yards in addition to rushing for 62 yards in the win over the Pirates.

“Our main focus right now is just to keep getting better across the board,” Christenson said. “We want to keep that positive momentum going and get better with every single snap.”

While the Havre offense seems to be hitting its stride, the Indians (0-7, 0-3) have struggled to move the ball all season long. Through seven games, Browning has scored just seven touchdowns and is averaging a meager 134 yards of total offense per game.

On the defensive side of the ball, senior defensive end Jace Billy will play an important role in slowing the Browning offense and is coming off an 11-tackle, two-sack performance.

Stokes, who leads HHS in tackles, will head a talented group of linebackers that includes seniors Gunner Aageson and Jase Kato. Filius will also play a key role on the backend of the Havre defense, leading a secondary that has faced injury issues all season and could be without starting cornerback Michael Loftus against Browning due to a shoulder injury.

While a win could clinch a playoff berth for the Ponies, they would also make it the postseason if they lost to the Indians by 17 points or less. Yet, losing is not something the Ponies plan on doing as they play in front of their hometown fans for the final time this season.

“Browning really has nothing to lose, so they are going to come in and throw everything but the kitchen sink at us,” Christenson said. “But, we just need to stay focused, play good, hard football and the rest of it will take care of itself.”

Havre and Browning will get underway tonight at Blue Pony Stadium at 7. If Havre wins, the Ponies will travel to either Miles City or Billings Central on Nov. 1 for the opening round of the playoffs.

Week Nine: Home Finale

Tonight at 7 p.m.

at Blue Pony Stadium

Radio: 610 KOJM AM

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