Ponies look to cage the Bulldogs tonight

The 2020 season is already at the home stretch for the Havre High football team. Essentially, it is crunch time for the Blue Ponies, who are still looking for their first win of the year. With the door to the postseason starting to close, Havre is looking to get some momentum going against a familiar opponent this week.

Tonight will see the Hardin Bulldogs face off against HHS in Blue Pony Stadium. It will be a clash of winless teams and a chance for one of the programs to pick up its first 2020 victory. Needless to say, the Ponies will have their hands full and their game ready to throw down with Hardin.

Havre head coach Ryan Gatch is looking forward to the battle against the Bulldogs.

"That should be a fun matchup for us," Gatch said. "Both teams are searching for their first win still. I know Hardin will be revved up. They're a well-coached team and I imagine that their season feels real short because they didn't start at the same time as everybody else, so I imagine their coaching staff feels like they're still learning and getting their game reps. It should be a good matchup."

And the Ponies will be lining up some tough talent. Defensively, seniors Brock Nystrom, Kellen Detrick and Bradyn Winchell will all be primed to put a stop to the Hardin offense. Nystrom has been lockdown at his corner position, while Detrick and Winchell have been great sources of pressure and control for the passing and rushing attack that comes their way.

Offensively, veteran quarterback Trenton Maloughney will be using his improvements in the pocket to help push the Blue Pony passing game, while Detrick and Crawford Terry will be other key pieces to help drive down the field. Junior Orion Thivierge will be aiming at a great game as a wide receiver, too. But there are other elements that will tie into Havre's game Friday, too.

Hardin will be shooting for its first win of the season, as well. The Bulldogs started late this year due to a scare regarding COVID-19 but are back in action and ready to prove they have some standing in the Eastern A. Their next obstacle is the Blue Ponies, who will be throwing down with Hardin till the final whistle. It will be a battle Friday and only one victor comes away with the game.

Gatch is glad to play in front of a passionate student section once again Friday, too.

"I look forward to competing at Blue Pony Stadium again," Gatch said. "It was nice having fans, and our student section was phenomenal. They kept supporting our players even when things weren't going good for us out there. The show of support from our campus community was fantastic. They're cheering for our guys even after Miles City left the field. Our students really acknowledge the effort our players put in out there."

On top of that, Blue Pony Stadium is a great atmosphere and Gatch is excited to get his players fired up for another game at home.

"Anytime you get to have a chance to play a team at home that has the same record as you, we know we got a lot of work to do," Gatch said. "We got a lot of coaching to do, too. I told our players after the game that as a head coach I still got some work to do for this team and that we're far from done. We still got football left to be played. The good news is we got a home game and you got to love playing at Blue Pony Stadium."

The Blue Ponies (0-4) will battle the winless Hardin Bulldogs for another shot at their first win of the season tonight at 7 p.m. in Blue Pony Stadium.

Tonight at 7 p.m.

at Blue Pony Stadium

Radio: 610 KOJM AM/Stream: NFHS.com