Ponies eager to stop the Locomotives

No one associated with the Havre High football team is happy with its 0-2 start, which is why the Blue Ponies have been working so hard to turn things around, starting tonight, with a home game against Laurel.

"Winning solves lots of problems," HHS head coach Ryan Gatch said. "It can cause some, too, but it would help our morale a lot. But you know, we are still really early in the season. There is still a lot that can happen and I think we are still just scratching the surface of how good we can be. But we could be sitting here in five weeks and it could be a completely different story. Right now, we are still just trying to be 1-0 each week."

While the Ponies (0-2) still have time to rebound from back-to-back losses against Hardin and Lewistown to open the season, if they drop tonight's game against Laurel (2-0), the prospects of contending for a playoff spot in the Eastern A, will be even dimmer.

Kickoff between the two teams will take place tonight at 7 inside Blue Pony Stadium.

"It's going to be a big challenge for us," Gatch said. "(Laurel) has a really good program. They are in the playoffs every year and through these first two weeks, they have made a lot of timely plays. They also do what you have to do to be a good football team and that's run the ball and stop the run."

The fact that the Locomotives, who will be playing at Blue Pony Stadium for the first time since the 2002 state championship game, boast a run-based attack could be a problem for Havre, seeing as the Ponies are allowing more than 250 yards per game on the ground through two games.

"First off, I would like to see us do a better job of playing assignment football this week," Gatch added. "I think that's going to be the most important thing. But our players and our coaches have worked really hard and focused on a lot of those things this week, so I think we will do a better job of stopping the run this week."

If Havre is going to knock off Laurel, it will need to be better. Last week, HHS surrendered 323 yards on the ground to the Eagles and also allowed them to score five rushing touchdowns. So the goal for the Ponies is to force Laurel to throw the football more, but with Gage Hull at quarterback and Decklan Harper at wide receiver, HHS will need its pass defense to be up to task as well.

"After watching them on film, it looks like they run the ball about 65 percent of the time and pass the ball about 35 percent of the time," Gatch said. "So we want to make them throw the football more than they have had to in their first two games, but that also means we need to focus on Harper because he is a really good player."

Containing Harper will be a big key for the Ponies and doing so will require corners Brady Ophus and Jacob Irvin to be at the top of their game. HHS may also need Ivar Aageson to spend more time playing coverage this week in order to stop Harper. Yet the second level of the defense, which includes Mason Dionne, Jeremiah Hughes and Jazz Schroeder at linebacker, will also need to play well. The Ponies also need a strong effort up front from Taylor Gopher, Austin Ratliff and Tysen Sangrey.

"A big focus for us is going to be stopping the run and putting them in situations where they have to throw the ball more than they are comfortable with," Gatch said. "We are also going to need to do a good job up front, both against the run and against the pass."

When Havre has the ball, the Ponies will also need to establish a running game, which in recent weeks has been tough to do.

So far this season, HHS is averaging less than 20 yards per game, something that will need to change if it wants to find the win column.

"I just think that we need to fine tune some things," Gatch said. "I think we are close. But we made a couple of adjustments this week, and we think we will be able to get things going."

The Ponies will rely on Dionne, Hughes and Schroeder to run the football and the passing game will be led by quarterback Trey Murphy, who is averaging 168 yards passing per game, to go along with three touchdowns and three interceptions. His top targets will be Aageson, Ethan Roberts and Irvin.

"If you want to win in the Eastern A, you need to be able to run the ball," Gatch said. "So that's something we are focused on and once we get that going, that will open up some other things down the field. But we have to get that running game going, if not, you are going to have a hard time winning."

Havre and Laurel will meet tonight at 7 inside Blue Pony Stadium. The Ponies will then strike out on the road for back-to-back games at Belgrade and Glendive.

Havre Blue Ponies

(0-2) Lost 38-12 vs Lewistown last week

vs

Laurel Locomotives

(2-0) def. Miles City 34-30 last week

Tonight at 7 p.m.

at Blue Pony Stadium

Radio: 610 KOJM AM

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