Ponies ready to rebound in Lewistown

The 2020 season has not gone in the direction that the Havre High football team was hoping for, but it is a usual tough climb through the Eastern A. Now, week three is here for the Blue Ponies and when it comes to Friday's game against the Lewistown Golden Eagles, Havre will have a difficult game ahead.

The Eagles will await the Ponies in Lewistown for a rivalry game that has spanned a long time. Kickoff is tonight at 7.

The 2019 season saw Havre topple Lewistown twice in Blue Pony Stadium late in the season, but 2020 now sees the Ponies face a road challenge that has haunted them for years.

It will be another obstacle in the road this week for head coach Ryan Gatch and the Ponies, especially when Havre will not be at home, once again.

"We get to go on the road again," Gatch said. "This time it'll be a little nicer because it's only a three-hour drive down to Lewistown. They're going to play us in a matchup. They have a great staff down there, they're well-coached, physical and they play hard. They got a good quarterback back for his senior year and the offense runs through him, so he'll be a real challenge."

The Blue Ponies are off to a 0-2 start on the year, but Havre will look to change that this week with a win and there is plenty of talent to help them get to that point. Offensively, Trenton Maloughney will be leading the charge, whether it be connecting to wide receivers like Brock Nystrom and Orion Thivierge or handing it off to the strong running backs in Kellen Detrick and Bradyn Winchell.

Defensively, Detrick, Winchell, Thivierge and Nystrom will look to play their part on that side of the ball, too. There is plenty of excellent senior leadership and young and hungry players, especially down the field, that will aim to bring home a road-win Friday night, but it will not be an easy task.

There is plenty of depth that makes up the Eagles, though, which Gatch sees as keys that help Lewistown play at a high level.

"They got a good hammer tailback and a big tight end they like to use," Gatch said. "They're solid on defense like usual and will stunt the heck out of us. Their defensive coordinator does a great job. We got our work cut out for us. We're going to have to be able to ship out on Friday and play on the road. That's always a challenge in the Eastern A. We're excited and eager to accept that challenge come Friday."

Havre has had Lewistown's number quite a few times in Blue Pony Stadium, but when it comes to the Ponies playing down in Golden Eagles' country, Lewistown has been known to hand them some tough losses. At the end of the day, there will not only be plenty of revenge on the mind of the Eagles, but they will be confident in playing a well-known rival on their home turf.

Overall, tonight will present a battle between rivals and Gatch is looking forward to the opportunity.

"It's just going to be a great game," Gatch said. "Both teams are trying to find our niche. Lewistown has a lot of returning players and we got a few that'll probably matchup real good. It'll be an exciting game. I believe it's their homecoming game, so they're going to be excited. Lewistown, I imagine, has some payback on their minds. We got two up on them last year, especially late in the year, so I knew they probably see a part of their road to success by beating the Blue Ponies."

Havre is still hunting for its first win of the 2020 season and it will look to get that victory over the Lewistown Golden Eagles tonight at 7 p.m. in Lewistown for a classic rivalry showdown.

Tonight at 7 p.m.

in Lewistown

Radio: 610 KOJM AM/Stream: NFHS.com