Ponies hoping it clicks in Belgrade

Although it might seem hard to find many positives after an 0-3 start, the Havre High football team feels like it still has a lot to play for and that all the Blue Ponies need is one win to get things rolling.

Tonight in Belgrade, the Blue Ponies will have another shot at getting that win. Havre (0-3) will take on the Panthers (1-2) tonight at 7 in a game that could keep hope alive for HHS or end its playoff fight entirely.

"Right now, I am really pleased with the kids," HHS head coach Ryan Gatch said. "We are still getting great effort and we have had a real positive week. The kids are staying positive. So I think we have the attitude that we need right now. We know that we need to get this first one and then we feel like we have a chance to get rolling."

Of course that first win can sometimes be the most difficult to get. After losing on the road against Hardin to open the season, Havre lost to Lewistown and Laurel, two definite playoff contenders, but even so, Gatch isn't discouraged.

"I think we have played some good football teams," Gatch said. "And I thought last week we really showed a lot of heart. We have a lot of chances to win that game, we just need to cut down on some of the mistakes. But we played with a fire that I have not seen yet this year and as long as we continue to get that, we will be fine. But we need to come out again with that sense of urgency."

Trying to avoid an 0-4 record should be enough motivation for the Ponies, but the fact that Havre is taking one of its rivals in Belgrade, should add to the intensity even more.

"They are another good football team," Gatch said of Belgrade. "They are going to be fired up to play us. They are at 1-2 and it's their homecoming, so that's going to be a big challenge for us."

Like in the previous week, Havre is going to have to deal with a mobile quarterback, as Belgrade's signal caller, Max Schumacher is a player who has the ability to make things happen through the air and on the ground. So far this season, he has just three touchdowns, compared to four interceptions and his rushing numbers aren't impressive, partially due to sacks, but he does have a 25-yard TD run to his credit this season, showing he can be dangerous when he escapes the pocket.

While the Panthers do like to throw the football, they average just 108 yards per game through the air, as opposed to 148 yards per game on the ground. And when it comes to pounding the rock, Belgrade likes to do that with Ethan Major, who is averaging 91.7 rushing yard per game. He also has two touchdowns and one outing with more than 100 yards. Last but not least, when the Panthers do try to throw the football, Easton Page will be the top target. So far in 2017, he has 12 receptions for 125 yards and three touchdowns.

"Belgrade is like a lot of the teams we have played so far," Gatch said. "They have a pretty good quarterback, a pretty good running back and a good wide receiver. Kind of like everybody else. Our main focus is going to be stop the run, but we will also try to do some things coverage-wise to contain (Page)."

Due to his ability, Page may find himself being covered man-to-man by Ivar Aageson, who shifts back between corner and safety for the Ponies. Ethan Roberts, another defensive back, will also play a key role in the defending the pass, as will corners Brady Ophus and Jacob Irvin.

Yet, those defensive backs will also be key in coming up and stopping the run. The linebackers will also be counted on to contain Belgrade's ground attack and those three spots will be manned again by Mason Dionne, Jeremiah Hughes and Jazz Schroeder. On the defensive line, Tysen Sangrey will be critical at one defensive end spot, as will Tanner Parsons, who has earned himself more snaps as a rush linebacker, following a sack last week against Laurel.

"The fact that Tanner has been able to do some things with his hand in the dirt has been pretty impressive," Gatch said. "I think we put him there just because we needed a guy there in practice and he started making plays, so we decided to give him some snaps and he did a good job. That has been a real nice surprise."

Parsons and Sangrey, according to Gatch, were also key to last week's run game revival. In the first two games of the season, Havre managed just 35 yards rushing. Last week, they eclipsed 150 yards rushing, thanks to 122 yards and two touchdowns from Dionne. But according to Gatch, a big part of that was some improved play up front.

"Tysen moving to left tackle was huge for us," Gatch said. "He just has a lot of natural ability there. I think he has been there for six practices and he is already our best guy at that spot. And Tanner has also been doing a nice job at tight end. Him and Tysen in the last game, were able to come together for some nice combo blocks, so that really helped kind of stabilize things up front and that was a big reason why we were able to run it better last week."

Ideally, Gatch said he wants to establish the run, then take some shots down the field with quarterback Trey Murphy, who has a slew of talented receivers in Aageson, Roberts, Ophus, Parsons and Irvin.

"As the saying goes, you throw for show, but you run to win," Gatch said. "That's something I learned a long time ago and I believe it to be true. If you want to win football games, you have to be able to run the football. And if we can get that established early, that will be huge for us. We can control the clock and control the game."

Regardless of how they do it, the Ponies just need a win and if they can get one tonight in Belgrade, it might just turn their whole season around.

"Getting a win down there would be huge," Gatch said. "Like I always say, we want to be 1-0 each week. That's our goal and I think that helps us in times like these because we just focus on our opponent each week and go from there. But I really think we just need that one win to get us going, then I believe we can take off."

Kickoff between Havre and Belgrade will be tonight at 7.

Havre Blue Ponies

(0-3) Lost at home to Laurel last week

at

Belgrade Panthers

(1-2) lost at Miles City last week

Tonight at 7 p.m.

in Belgrade

Radio: 610 KOJM AM