Friday Night Lights: Flammond no longer a one-way guy

No matter what sport, or what level, good athletic programs all have one thing in common: They can development talent. And with players like Dane Flammond as an example, the Havre High football team has done a good job of doing exactly that.

Flammond, who is a senior this season, began starting last year as a junior. Mostly, he played on one side of the ball and ended up being effective as a linebacker, notching 49 tackles, seven tackles for loss and two sacks. He also had one pass defense. Yet, this season, Flammond was looking to make an even bigger impact and thanks to help from his coaches, he has been able to make one.

“I think the big thing for me is that a lot of the hard work I have put in is paying off,” Flammond said. “I worked hard last year and tried to carry that over this year. I think the coaches have helped me get a lot better, but a lot of it was just persistence. Sooner or later, I figured I was bound to get better.”

Certainly, Flammond isn’t the only player who has stepped up his level of play this season. After graduating a number of seniors from last season’s Central A Championship team, HHS needed to reload and has done so by counting on a number of players with limited experience when the season started.

Flammond may not fall into that category, on defense anyways, but midway through the season, with a lack of depth in the offensive backfield, Flammond was asked to play on offense for the first time his his freshman year and his response, has been something to see.

In his first varsity action as a running back against Sidney, Flammond racked up 30 yards rushing and the next week had more than 60 against Browning, along with his first-career rushing touchdown. And from there, he has simply gotten better and better, on both sides of the ball.

“It didn’t take us long to realize he is one heck of a football player,” Havre head coach Ryan Gatch said. “He’s someone that is really great at taking coaching. He’s a good leader for us and he works hard. He’s a great example for some of our younger guys and he’s one that does a great job of leading by example.”

While Gatch was quick to credit Flammond, the now two-way player for the Ponies, gave credit back to his coaches.

“I think a big thing has just been the coaching that I have gotten this year from Coach Gatch and the other coaches,” Flammond said. “I have just been trying to get better and improve as much as I can and I think that the things they have taught me have helped quite a bit.”

This season, when it comes to playing linebacker, few in the Central A are doing it as well as Flammond. He may be trailing fellow senior Jase Stokes when it comes to total tackles, but it’s close and with one interception to his credit, the two-sport star, who has also placed in the Class A state wrestling tournament two years running, keeps making big play, after big play for a defense that ranks among the best in the state.

“Before, I was happy playing just defense,” Flammond said. “But now, after all the coaches have worked with me, like coach (Jake) Criner, they have helped me become a much better player on offense and now I am having fun playing both sides of the ball.”

While Flammond’s development has been a key for Havre on offense and defense, the senior and his teammates will need to keep up their high level of play tonight, as they prepare for what is without question, the team’s biggest game of the regular season against Belgrade. Kickoff is at 7 inside Blue Pony Stadium.

“Big players step up in big games,” Gatch said. “And we are going to need some of our big guys to step up in this one for us.”

Flammond may not have always been one of those impact players, but thanks to hard work, dedication and coachability, he is now and the Ponies are that much better because of it.