Kickoff 2016: New-look Blue Ponies open the season at rival Whitefish

The annual season-opening game between Havre and Whitefish is built as a rivalry game. But the truth is, in recent years, it hasn't been much of a rivalry at all.

For the past four years, the Bulldogs have dominated the Blue Ponies, winning twice in Whitefish and in consecutive years at Blue Pony Stadium, including last season's 44-12 rout.

But this year, both teams have changed drastically and with the series shifting to Whitefish, where the two teams will meet Saturday at 2 p.m., maybe Havre can get back to its winning ways, and win back the BNSF Trophy.

"You know, I think our kids are really excited to go down there and play," new HHS head football coach Ryan Gatch said. "I think they have a bit of a chip on their shoulder and they feel like they have something to prove. We are going on the road to take on the defending state champions, so it's a great opportunity against a great team."

One thing both teams will have in common is a new starting quarterback, with each set to start their first varsity game against the other. For Havre, Trey Murphy will get the nod. For Whitefish, it will be Derek Kastella.

Murphy backed up Dane Warp, a four-year starter and All-State performer, for two seasons and after competing against Ivar Aageson throughout camp, he will see the first-team snaps. Yet, Aageson, who also plays wide receiver on offense and cornerback on defense, will also see time as the signal caller.

"We are going to play both of them," Gatch said. "Each one has a little different package, but Trey is going to start for us. There is a lot that goes into it, but part of it is that Ivar is such a great wide receiver and on the outside, we don't have anyone else quite like him."

While Aageson will certainly be a key part of the Pony attack, whether at quarterback or receiver, the biggest key for the Havre offense may be establishing the running game, which Gatch said would be a focus this week.

"You hope you can get control of the game," Gatch said. "That's a big key and the running game is going to be a key factor in that just like it is in every first game."

Another important factor for Havre will be the play of Murphy. How he handles his first start, on the road against the defending state champions will be crucial in deciding the outcome.

"Hopefully he's not too nervous," Gatch said. "It's just like being a teacher, you have a lesson plan going in, but you have to be ready to adjust. Some of the nerves will go away as the day goes on and the game builds. I know that we are running really good plays in practice for both of them (Murphy and Aageson), but we will see what happens. It's going to be exciting for him and it will be exciting for a lot of people, who are making their first start or playing varsity the first time."

Havre will look to establish a passing game through Murphy by throwing to Aageson, but Isaac Warp, Nate Korb and Jacob LaBrie will all be involved in the attack as well. In the backfield, Jase Stokes (halfback) and Jazz Schroeder (tailback) will lead the way for the Havre ground game. Schroeder, who missed the Blue-White game with an injury, is healthy and ready to go Saturday.

"Jazz is healthy and he's going to play," Gatch said. "Jase and Jazz, those are two good players, we want to give them the ball a lot, but we need to keep them healthy, too."

The Ponies may have lost plenty of starters, but Whitefish is in a similar boat. Havre lost Dane Warp and Nate Rismon, but the Bulldogs are without Luke May and Jed Nagler, as well as a number of other starters.

Yet, Whitefish will again be a senior-laden team with as many as 12 seniors starting, which means the Bulldogs are going to be more seasoned than they appear, particularly since the team was able to play so many players due to blowout wins last season. Their play on both sides of the line, is expected to be especially good.

"It's exciting to see all these guys come into their own," Whitefish head coach Chad Ross said in an interview with the Whitefish Pilot earlier this month. "A lot of them were a big part of last year. Without these guys, we don't win a title last year. So now, they're taking the leading roles and new guys are taking the secondary roles, so it's exciting to see them step into those shoes."

In addition to having Kastella at quarterback, the Bulldogs will be led by All-State inside linebacker Travis Catina, as well as offensive and defensive lineman Patrick McGeady and running back/defensive back Tyler Cote.

"They have some good kids," Gatch said. "We actually exchanged film from our scrimmages and they are a real good football team."

In the past, Whitefish has used a dominant rushing attack to beat Havre into submission and this year, the Bulldogs will likely use a similar strategy. However, the Pony defense does return seven starters, including a number of them in the trenches and at linebacker, which should help prevent that.

Stokes, who is good running the football, is even better on the defensive side of the ball at linebacker, where he earned All-State honors a season ago. Defensive end Tyler Schaub will also be counted on to make an impact and Dane Flammond, another starting linebacker, will contribute heavily as will Korb at safety and Aageson at corner, where they each earned Second Team All-Conference in the Central A last season.

"I think that we are looking pretty solid defensively," Gatch said. "But they are a read good, physical football team. I think we are similar in a lot of ways. I think it's going to be an exciting matchup."

At the end of the day, the team that wins may be the one that's best able to keep its composure, which Gatch is hoping will be his squad, which is seeking to bring the BNSF trophy back to Havre for the first time since 2011.

"I haven't heard the kids talk a whole lot about the trophy," Gatch said. "We are just focused on this week. The other day, I asked the kids, 'How many games are on our schedule?' And they came back with the right answer: one.' So that's the mentality that we have. We just want to get better and improve, but we aren't into moral victories either, we don't believe in those."

Havre and Whitefish will kick off the 2016 season Saturday in Whitefish at 2 p.m.