Ponies hope to wrangle Cowboys on homecoming

Through four games this season, the Havre High football team has a 2-2 record. While they have picked up wins against Sidney and Hardin at home, the Blue Ponies have dropped road games against good teams such as Lewistown and Billings Central. Tonight, the Ponies will face another strong opponent in Miles City but Havre will get to face them at home at Blue Pony Stadium in their homecoming game.

"Blue Pony Stadium is the greatest spot in Class A football to play a game," HHS head coach Ryan Gatch said. "It'll be a great opportunity for us to get after one another. They're a good football team. We're a good football team. It'll be a great matchup to see where we stand."

Miles City has a 2-1 record this season. In their two wins against Hardin and Glendive this season, the Cowboys averaged 39 points per game. Their offensive line will be anchored by last year's second-team all-conference offensive lineman Alex Donnelly. In terms of playmakers, Miles City sees the return of first-team all-conference tight end Ben Glasscock.

"They're a well-coached, fundamentally sound team and they're able to take advantage of some of their weapons that they have on offense," Gatch said.

The Cowboys made the State A playoffs last year but they lost many seniors who were key to that run. However, new quarterback Dalton Polesky and running back Dalton Tvedt have already stepped up to continue leading the offense to success this fall.

"They were just replaced. They have talented kids and they are able to replace them. That's what happens when you're a well-run football program," Gatch said.

On defense, Glasscock will also play defensive end after a second-team all-conference season last year. Aidan Kline will also return to play safety after being named honorable mention all-conference last fall.

If the Ponies are going to get their offense going and keep the Miles City offense off the field, they will need to rely on their run game like they have all season. Newly-crowned homecoming king Orion Thivierge should lead the charge as he has 341 rushing yards and five touchdowns this season on 5.9 yards a carry. Thivierge's success on the ground should indicate how well the Ponies do as he averaged 110.5 yards in their two wins and 60 yards a game in their two losses.

Along with preparing for the game tonight, Gatch has had to make sure his team is not distracted by the activities and excitement associated with homecoming week at Havre High School. However, he believes his team has shown they are more than capable of keeping themselves focused.

"Our guys are locked in and ready to go," Gatch said. "Their focus has been real good in practice."

Over the past few years, Miles City has gotten the better of Havre. Last season, Miles City defeated Havre, 55-12, at Blue Pony Stadium. If the Ponies are going to defeat the Cowboys this year, they will need to win the turnover battle.

"We got to hold on to that football and we got to make sure that we're taking the ball away from them," Gatch said.

HHS football will play Miles City tonight at 6 p.m. at Blue Pony Stadium.