Friday Night Lights: Meet Havre's new signal caller

Before this season, Reese Bulkley had never been a quarterback.

But after months of prep work and dedication, that's all going to change tonight as he gets set to take the field as the starting quarterback for the Havre Blue Ponies.

For Bulkley, the journey to being the starting quarterback was different than most. The fact is, when he starts tonight at Blue Pony Stadium against Hardin at 7 p.m., it will be the first start at quarterback of his high school career and that includes sub-varsity competition. He has played wide receiver and even running back, but never quarterback, not in a game, not until tonight that is.

"I feel good about it," Bulkley said about being named the starter. "I think that our team is going to do a lot better than we did last year. We are not the same team."

Bulkley is right about one thing: This isn't the same Havre team. But that's not a bold statement, it's just a fundamental fact. No two teams or two seasons are ever the same in high school football. But Bulkley is also right in that he's a different kind of quarterback, too. Unlike Murphy and Dane Warp before him, who both focused on being pocket passers, Bulkley is more of a multi-dimensional weapon and that's something that could prove beneficial for a Havre offense that struggled to score in 2017.

"I think our running game is definitely going to be more open," Bulkley said. "We have Mason (Dionne) at tailback and a fullback (Kellen Detrick) that can run and then you have me running the ball, so we have a lot of options there."

According to Bulkley, the offense is going to still focus on the running game which features Dionne. However, he did say there are some new wrinkles, which will allow his athleticism to be featured.

"We have a few designed runs for me," Bulkley said. "We are still sticking to our normal offense for the most part but we did adapt a little bit to having a more mobile quarterback."

While having a mobile quarterback will be a change for the Ponies, the passing game will still be stressed and Bulkley, who throws the football left handed also has the advantage of previously being a receiver, which he says, has helped him develop a rapport with top pass catchers like Ethan Roberts, Brandon Shaw, Brock Nystrom and Max Olson.

"I think it helps me because I know where the receivers want the ball," Bulkley said of his time as a receiver. "I know where to put the ball to try to give them a chance to make some yards after the catch and things like that."

Of course, athleticism and being able to throw the football are important traits for any signal caller. But for Bulkley to win the starting quarterback job at Havre High, he had to meet certain criteria set forth by his head coach and that test is one he passed with flying colors.

"Reese is a really good athlete," HHS head coach Ryan Gatch said. "He is also really football savvy and he has made himself into a quarterback. He got voted a team captain and that was another key factor. Who are the guys going to play for, who are they going to follow? He is also a next-play kind of guy. I have never seen him get too down about what happens and that's another important thing for leadership. No matter how down and out you might be, can you come back and play the next play and he has demonstrated that ability."

A short memory is a great quality for a quarterback and it's something the entire Havre High football team can benefit from as the Ponies try to move on from a winless season in 2017 and get back to their winning ways.

"We are excited to show people that we aren't as bad as we looked last season," Bulkley said. "We are hungry and we want to show everyone that we can be a good team. Last year was just a bad year but that's not who we are."

Bulkley and the Ponies will get a chance to prove that right away, with a win tonight against Hardin. Kickoff inside Blue Pony Stadium is set for 7.