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Polson passes, runs by Havre High ending the Ponies' season in the process
Havre High's Nate Korb tries to break a tackle during Friday night's game between the Blue Ponies and Polson Pirates. Polson won 47-14, preventing Havre from making the playoffs.
Havre's Jase Stokes scores a touchdown during Friday night's game at Blue Pony Stadium.
Blue Pony senior Dane Flammond runs for a big gain during Friday night's game against Polson.
The Havre defense corrals Polson quarterback Tanner Wilson during Friday night's game in Havre.
HHS's Ivar Aageson avoids a Polson tackler during Friday night's game at Blue Pony Stadium.
Havre's Brady Ophus fights off a Polson blocker during Friday's game in Havre.
Havre senior Isaac Warp runs with the ball during Friday night's senior night game at Blue Pony Stadium.
George Ferguson
Havre Daily News sports editor
Despite back-to-back losses to finish Central A Conference play, the Havre Blue Ponies had everything to play for in their regular season finale. A win over third-ranked and Northwest A champion Polson, on senior night, and the Blue Ponies were going to the playoffs.
But, there was one problem with that scenario — the Pirates.
Polson stars Tanner Wilson (QB) and Matthew Rensvold (WR), two Montana Grizzly commits, hooked up 14 different times, including four for touchdowns as the third-ranked Pirates battered the Blue Ponies 47-14 Friday night inside Blue Pony Stadium.
The loss was Havre’s third straight, and, with Miles City beating Glendive on the same night, turned out to be the Ponies’ final game of the year, as they will not be in the 12-team, Class A state playoffs, which start next Saturday.
“The effort was there,” HHS head coach Ryan Gatch said. “From an effort standpoint, I thought the kids did an outstanding job. We were just banged up and playing what might be the best team in the state.
“It was a little disappointing that you have teams with losing records that made the playoffs, when we didn’t,” he added. “But that’s the system that we have. We knew what we had to do and we had our chances, we just didn’t take care of business.”
And while Havre was ready to put it all on the line on senior night, it was clear from the start, it wasn’t going to be enough.
The Ponies did get a stop on Polson’s first possession, but they fumbled the ensuing punt, and Polson took advantage, as Wilson hit Rensvold for a 3-yard touchdown. On Polson’s next possession, the duo hooked up for a 48-yard strike, which got the Pirates deep into HHS territory again. This time however, Jase Stokes, who also started at quarterback in place of injured starter Trey Murphy, stripped Colton Cote and recovered the fumble.
And yet, that turned out to be one of the few breaks the Havre defense would get. Polson only allowed the Ponies a single first down on offense in the first quarter, and on the other end Wilson hit Rensvold again from three years out to up the lead to 14-0 as the first quarter drew to a close.
That TD was the continuation of what would be 40 straight points by the Pirates. Wilson opened the second quarter with a four-yard TD run, and also hit Rensvold on TD strikes of 49 and 16 yards, sending the Pirates into halftime with a 33-0 lead. Polson also drive the length of the field on its opening possession of the third quarter, ending with a Cote one-yard TD plunge to put the Pirates up 40-0.
On the other side, Havre finally put together a great drive midway through the third, a drive that was sparked by an Ivar Aageson reverse, and finished by a Stokes seven-yard run. Havre also tacked on a sizzling 57-yard touchdown run by Dane Flammond in fourth quarter, but it was too little too late, as Havre couldn’t stop the Wilson to Rensvold connection. Wilson threw for 258 yards and ran for another 44, while Rensvold caught 14 passes and also rushed for 31 yards.
In his first and only start at quarterback for HHS, Stokes finished 5-of-14 for 37 yards. He also carried it 10 times for 22 yards. Flammond led all Havre rushers with 62 yards on six carries and Isaac Warp finished as the leading receiver with three receptions for 16 yards.
Stokes finished the game with 14 tackles, including one for loss. Nate Korb added 12 and Flammond finished with 11 to go along with a sack.
The Ponies, who finished 5-4 overall and in third in the Central A conference, will not be part of the Class A playoffs for the first time since 2005.
“I think that these kids can still look back and know they accomplished a lot playing football for Havre High and I want them to remember that,” Gatch said. “I told them I wish that I could have worked with them for their entire four years of high school, because it’s a great group, and I think it would have been a lot of fun.”
Note: Havre Daily News sports writer Chris Peterson contributed to this story.
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