Ponies renew an old rivalry in Billings

Despite being winless, the Havre High football team still has plenty of fight left in it and tonight in Billings, the Blue Ponies will take the fight to highly-touted Billings Central in a rematch of the 2004 Class A state championship game.

But while the Rams (5-1) are undoubtedly a state-title contender this season, the Ponies are still trying to find the win column and if they are going to escape Billings with a win, Havre will need a herculean effort. Kickoff between the Rams and Ponies is set for 7 p.m..

"I think that we have a realistic chance to win every week," HHS head coach Ryan Gatch said. "Billings Central is a really good football team. They have a great running game and probably the best running back we have seen so far this season. But our guys are still working. We had a really great week of preparation last week and we had another good week this week. So we will see, but I think when we get off the bus, these guys will be ready to go."

As Gatch mentioned, Billings Central is a great running team, in fact, they may have the most potent ground game in the state. Under long-time head coach Jim Stanton, the Rams have always been a power running team and continue to use plenty of single-wing formations. But when you have a back like junior Ben Voss, it really doesn't matter what kind of offense you are using.

In six games, Voss has been shredding opposing defenses in the Eastern A. Last week, in the Rams 49-21 win over Belgrade, Voss carried the ball 19 times for 339 yards and four rushing touchdowns. For the season, Voss has racked up 1,050 rushing yards to go along with 17 touchdowns. He is also averaging 10.3 yards per carry and has been held under 100 yards only once, when Sidney limited him to 24 yards on seven attempts.

"I think he is definitely the best back that we have seen so far," Gatch said. "But they have some other talented runners too and they are very good up front, so it's going to be a big challenge for us."

Voss is the undisputed lead back of Billings Central, but he is far from the only effective ball carrier on the Rams' roster. Jack Studer is another back that will see touches and earlier this season, he racked up 136 yards rushing against Glendive. Quarterback Joe Byorth has also eclipsed 100 yards on the ground this season. Duncan Kraft is another solid contributor for Billings Central, along with the Chrishon Dixon, who is the Rams go-to-guy in the passing game.

"They have a pretty solid quarterback and a really good receiver," Gatch said. "Most of the time, they play with a wing and a slot. They like to move those guys around a little bit and do some different things."

Billings Central is always difficult to defend, but for a Havre defense that has struggled against the run, containing the Rams seems like a monumental task. Billings Central comes into the game averaging 36.8 ppg, while the Havre defense comes in surrendering 36.5 a game. Currently, HHS has allowed 30 or more points in five consecutive games and after giving up 355 rushing yards to Sidney, the Ponies are giving up 251 yards per game on the ground.

"They are a really physical team up front," Gatch said. "But it should be fun. They are going to present a lot of challenges for us. But playing physical football, that's going to be the key. We have been trying to get our guys to be more physical all year long and we have been progressing each week. So that's good, I can still look at our guys and know that we are progressing and continuing to improve and get better."

One thing that has improved for the Ponies in recent weeks has been their pass protection. With the move of Tysen Sangrey to left tackle, the offensive line has been solidified some, which showed last week when quarterback Trey Murphy made it through the first half of the game unscathed.

Murphy, who was 15-of-20 for 189 yards and two touchdowns against Sidney, didn't throw an incomplete pass in the game until late in the third quarter. With more time to throw, the senior quarterback has been able to get the ball consistently to receivers Ivar Aageson and Ethan Roberts.

Roberts (29 receptions, 448 yards) has racked up more than 250 yards receiving in the last two games, and Aageson (39 receptions, 466 yards), who is just short of 200 in the last two outings, isn't far behind. Yet, if Havre is going to have a chance at pulling the upset, the Ponies will need to find some balance, which has been missing recently.

In the loss against Glendive two weeks ago, Havre managed just 57 yards rushing and against Sidney, last Friday, HHS managed just 48. Mason Dionne, the Ponies starting running back, has also managed just 102 yards on 42 attempts, which equates to just 2.4 yards per attempt.

"Offensively, I think the play of our offensive line has been a real positive," Gatch said. "I think that has gotten better and better each week. We had have more time to throw the football, so that has helped, but we need to also be able to establish the run. We also need to take care of the football and if we can do that and win the turnover battle, we will have a chance to win the game."

Havre and Billings Central will play tonight in Billings. Kickoff is set for 7 at Herb Klindt Field.

Havre Blue Ponies

(0-6) Lost to Sidney last week

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Billings Central Rams

(5-1) def. Belgrade last week