Friday Night Lights: These guys can catch

Dane Warp's march to the state of Montana's career records for passing yards and touchdown passes has been in the works since his first start as a freshman back in 2012. But, he will be the first to tell you, he has had plenty of help along the way, and while he has put up spectacular numbers, he wouldn't have been able to do it with the people who catch the passes he throws.

Warp, now a senior, is in his fourth season as the starting quarterback for the Havre High football team and, after three spectacular years, his assault on the MHSA record books is about to get serious.

After throwing for 218 yards and two touchdowns in Havre's season-opening game against Whitefish, Warp now finds himself just 282 yards shy of the record for most passing yards in the history of Montana high school football, and just three touchdowns shy of holding the state's all-time record for touchdown passes.

Based on the fact that Warp has averaged 271.2 passing yards per game throughout his career, along with 2.5 touchdown passes per game, it's safe to say Warp will own those records sooner rather than later and possibly as early as tonight when HHS hosts Hardin in a non-conference battle at Blue Pony Stadium.

"It would be a great honor," Warp said of breaking both records. "But, I definitely could not have done it without the help of my teammates and the help of some great coaches."

Warp is right, no individual can break records like the one the three-time All-State quarterback is about to, without being surrounded by good players. And in his three-plus seasons at Havre High, Warp has had plenty of playmakers to distribute the football to.

It started in 2012, his first season as a starter. And while he was just a freshman, he was throwing to juniors and seniors. Zach Plum was his top target that season, racking up 1,177 yards on Warp passes to go along with nine touchdowns. Thurman Holdsclaw also put up great numbers that season with 848 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, as did Thomas Gruber, who had 606 yards receiving and seven touchdowns.

Gruber, who piled up more receiving yards (1,494) with Warp as his quarterback than any other receiver outside of Parker Filius, excelled with Warp. Fillius, an All-State receiver who has totaled 1,556 yards and nine touchdowns, has done the same, working as the primary receiver in the slot the past two seasons.

Another receiver who has excelled with Warp has been classmate Nate Rismon, who despite missing almost all of last season due to injury, has still produced 791 yards and 10 touchdowns catching passes from the 2014 Central A offensive player of the year.

"I think it's because he sees the field so well," Rismon said, when asked what makes Warp such an effective passer. "We know that if we get open, he is going to get us the ball."

While Rismon, Filius, Gruber, Plum, Holdsclaw and Isaac Warp, Dane's younger brother, who totaled 620 yards and six touchdowns a season ago, have combined for 6,504 of Warp's 8,625 yards, there have been a number of other receivers who have contributed to the senior passer's soon-to-be record-breaking total.

In all, Warp has completed passes to 19 different wideouts in his 32 games as Havre's starting quarterback and has connected with 15 different receivers for touchdown passes, which proves that no matter who he is throwing to, he has found ways to be productive.

There are always debates about which position is more important, quarterback or receiver, but in truth, one can't thrive without the other. At times, Warp has helped his receivers look good, while they have, at times, returned the favor.

There is no doubting Warp's greatness, but there is also no doubting the fact that he has received a lot of help on his way to the top of the MHSA record books.

"I really do have my teammates to thank," Warp said. "To be good, every quarterback needs great teammates and I have been really lucky to play with some great players these past few years."

Warp will be looking to break the yardage and touchdown records tonight against Hardin. The Ponies and Bulldogs will kickoff their non-conference tilt at 7 p.m., inside Blue Pony Stadium. Warp needs 282 passing yards and three touchdown passes to hold each record outright.