Friday Night Lights: Lunak holds the Blue Ponies' line

Hold the line. Protect the quarterback. Open up the run. Battle it out. There are so many things that offensive lineman in the game of football are tasked with day-in and day-out, making them some of the hardest working athletes in the game. The o-line holds down the fort and helps ready the plan of attack and without them, there is a glaring lack in the offensive game.

But when it comes to the Havre Blue Ponies, senior lineman Carson Lunak makes sure that any holes are patched. He works hard to keep the defense away from the quarterback, open up the run-game and at the end of the day, Lunak will battle it out in the trenches till the final whistle.

Lunak has been through a lot since he became a lineman for the Ponies and he credits that experience today.

"I started playing line when coach Gatch asked me to try it out," Lunak said. "I had great teammates as coaches that helped me become the player I am today."

Lunak has been a contribution to the success that the Blue Ponies have seen over the years, especially in the 2019-2020 season, where Lunak was a part of a powerful, protective offensive line that helped push Havre to the postseason. On top of that, Lunak plays a part in keeping the energy up and keeping the defense from getting to the quarterback.

The trenches are always a battlefield, no matter which side of the ball a player is on. The intensity never lets up and the grind never stops, but that does not bother Lunak, it only fuels him to keep up the pace and work harder. It takes a special athlete to go head-to-head in the trenches snap after snap and Lunak is definitely one of those athletes.

As for what Lunak enjoys the most about being a lineman, he loves the thrill of the trenches alongside his teammates.

"Every play is a new battle and a new challenge," Lunak said. "There's nothing like battling with my boys. I love to compete every day and every single practice. I want me and my teammates to get better every single day."

But being a rough-and-tumble lineman in the trenches is not the only thing that Lunak works hard at. Lunak pushes himself to make the most of his education, as well. As a student, Lunak makes sure he stays on top of his schoolwork just as much as his work on the field. Havre's tradition of excellence is happy to have a student-athlete who wants to aim high both on the field and in the classroom.

Lunak has been looking toward college, as well. Lunak has visited Dickinson State University and received an invite to the Montana Tech Elite Football Camp. The lineman has been a credited HHS Honor Roll student and is a big part of the Havre Northstars American Legion baseball club during the summer, too. Needless to say, Lunak has been making the most of every opportunity and chance he has gotten, especially during the COVID-19 era.

Lunak has a bright future ahead of him, as well as a plan for when that time comes about. Burthe also is thankful for the people who have helped him get to this point.

"I plan to attend a college to study physical education and hopefully play at the collegiate level," Lunak said. "I'm thankful for my amazing teammates and coaches at Havre High for pushing me and always being there through thick and thin. I have amazing parents for always being by my side and always believe in me."

There is still a lot of time before Lunak heads off to the next chapter in his life, so he will still be making more memories and moments right now, especially when it comes to tonight, when Lunak takes the field with his teammates to face off against the Hardin Bulldogs in Blue Pony Stadium to aim for their first win of the 2020 season. It's back to the trenches for another night.