Blue Ponies head to Sidney for an Eastern A Saturday matinee

Over the past two weeks, the Havre High football team has inched closer to getting its second win of the season with two close home losses. Now, the Blue Ponies will try their chances on the road against Sidney.

While the Ponies generally play Friday nights, this time, the schedule will be different as Havre and Sidney will meet Saturday at 4 p.m. The matchup between the Ponies and Eagles will be an important one within the Eastern A, where teams five through nine in the standings are separated by one game. Sidney will come in 2-3 and Havre, following losses to Belgrade and Glendive at home the past two weeks, is 1-4.

"We have been really close," HHS head coach Ryan Gatch said. "We have had some opportunities, we just have to find a way to get a play or two to go our way. But we keep putting ourselves in a position and that's what we are trying to do again this week. We want to give ourselves a chance to be 1-0."

Winning on the road is never easy. However, within the Eastern A, it's especially challenging and partly because of the long trips. Havre will travel nearly across the state to take on the Eagles, with the hopes of winning its first game away from Blue Pony Stadium since 2016.

The Eagles, led by head coach Roger Merritt, are fresh off a 20-0 defeat at the hands of Lewistown last week. Sidney also lost its first two games of the season by scores of 31-7 to Belgrade and 40-0 to Billings Central. Yet, since the Billings Central loss, Sidney had turned things around, knocking off Hardin 41-6, before outlasting Glendive in overtime 20-16 two weeks ago. Those wins have the Eagles right in the thick of the playoff race and if they can get back to .500 they will be in even better position.

"They are another good team," Gatch said. "They are probably a little disappointed in how they played last week against Lewistown, so they are going to be tough and after playing two games on the road, they will be excited to be at home."

Saturday's contest will be the third road game for the Ponies and also the third home game for the Eagles, who are going to be led by junior quarterback Cooper McGlothlin, as well as running back Jett Jones and wide reciever Christian Dean.

McGlothlin doesn't throw for tons of yards for the Eagles, but he did manage 160 passing yards against Glendive and he is also capable of racking up yards on the ground as well. Sidney also has multiple runners who can make things happen including Jones and Riley Watters, who scored the game-winning touchdown against Glendive in overtime.

Run defense has been a strength for the Ponies this season and that should be helpful in containing the Eagles offense. Over the last two weeks, despite two losses, defense has allowed an average of just 12.5 points per game and an average of only 214.5 yards. Linebacker Mason Dionne has been a big part of that in the front seven, along with defensive lineman Kellen Detrick, Quinn Springer and Dexter Beck. Caleb Allestad has also been a solid contributor at linebacker and in the secondary, HHS is led by Ethan Roberts and Reese Bulkley.

Roberts, who is also the Ponies' leading pass catcher, has been dealing with some leg injuries in recent weeks, but if he is able to play against the Eagles, he will be the top target of Havre quarterback Reese Bulkley. In five games, Bulkley has seven touchdown passes and one rushing touchdown, while Roberts is averaging 96 yards per game and has five touchdown receptions.

In the backfield, Dionne will get the lion's share of the touches for HHS. He finished the Glendive game with two touchdowns, as well as 22 rushes for 93 yards. He also caught two passes for 28, giving him 125 yards on 24 touches overall. Detrick will also get some work in the backfield, as will sophomore Bradyn Winchell. Other names to watch offensively for Havre, in the passing game particular - are wide receivers Hunter Lovenguth, Max Olson and Brock Nystrom.

Yet, no matter how well Havre can move the ball or stop the Eagles from moving it, the biggest key to winning might be prevailing in the turnover battle, something that's been an issue in recent weeks.

"We have gotten the ball out a few times, we just haven't had it bounce our way," Gatch said, "so hopefully, we will get some of those breaks this week and win the turnover margin. That will be huge for us if we can do that."

Havre (1-4) comes into the game tied for eighth in the Eastern A, however, the Ponies trail Sidney, Miles City and Glendive by just one game. Kickoff between the Eagles and Ponies is set for 4 p.m.

Havre Blue Ponies (1-4) at Sidney Eagles (2-3)

Saturday at 4 p.m.

in Sidney

Radio: 610 KOJM AM