Havre High football dominates on senior night

The end of the road has finally come for the Havre High football senior class. While the Blue Ponies have faced adversity through the course of the season, they got to celebrate their senior night on Friday night at Blue Pony Stadium.

Not only did the Ponies get to celebrate their seniors but they got to send them off on the right note with a 57-8 win over Livingston. However, many seniors had mixed emotions about their final home game.

"Having to step off this field for the last time is pretty tough to accept," senior Trenton Maloughney said. "But it's awesome. Glad everyone got to come out here and watch us get a big win."

The win snapped what had been a four-game losing streak for the Ponies and improved their record to 3-5. Over the course of the night, four seniors scored to help lead the team to victory and end the season with a 3-1 home record. Along with Maloughney, the other seniors honored were Orion Thivierge, Riley Pleninger, Kendall Pleninger, Jared Rosgaard, Justin Rosgaard, Randy Tommerup and Riley Long Knife.

"A fine group of kids. A special group of kids," HHS head coach Ryan Gatch said. "Lucky to be able to be a little snapshot in their life for the last four years so real proud of their efforts and how hard they played today."

Havre quickly set the tone to start the game. Livingston gambled early with an onside kick to start the game but the Ponies recovered the ball to start their opening drive in Livingston territory. Havre got their running game to march down the field. On a play action pass, Maloughney found Brody Nanini wide open for a 22-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead less than a minute and a half into the game.

The Ponies' defense came out strong as well to force a three and out on Livingston's opening drive. When they got the ball back, the Ponies gave Thivierge his touches on senior night. He only got two touches on the drive, but Thivierge took his second carry 60 yards for the score.

"I just knew it was a football game and we had business to handle," Thivierge said about playing football on an emotional senior night. "It's no different than any other week. We still had to come out and play."

Havre's defense continued to play well and give the ball back to the offense. On their third drive of the game, the Ponies continued to move the ball. On third and seven at the 50-yard line, Maloughney completed a short pass to Kale VanCampen who took it all the way to the Livingston seven-yard line. Two plays later, VanCampen carried the direct snap three yards into the endzone for the score and 20-0 lead late in the first quarter.

The Havre offense continued to roll to start the second. The Ponies eventually got to the Livingston three-yard line where they let Tommerup carry the ball in for the score. As an offensive and defensive lineman who does not get too many touches, getting to score in his final home game was pretty special.

"It felt great. There's nothing like it," Tommerup said.

The Havre defense did not let the offense have all the fun as it began to put up some points itself. At midfield on the next Livingston drive, Jason Wold recovered a fumble and returned it all the way for the score. On the next drive, Colter Solomon intercepted a pass and returned it for the touchdown. The Ponies then made it three straight drives with a takeaway as they recovered another Livingston fumble.

"It was nice to see the kids getting after it," Gatch said about the defensive effort. "Really commend our kids for how hard they played and prepped all week."

The Havre offense capitalized on the turnover with another score. This time it was Justin Rosgaard who carried it in from three yards out to extend Havre's lead to 48-0 with just over four minutes left in the half. Like Tommerup, Rosgaard was another lineman that Gatch wanted to give a chance to score in the final home game of his career.

"I felt they earned an opportunity to be able to run the football and they did a good job," Gatch said. "Really proud of them. Hopefully it's a memory that lasts their lifetime."

Havre recovered another Livingston fumble to make it four drives in a row with a takeaway. Maloughney converted that into another score with a 13-yard touchdown run for a 55-0 lead heading to halftime.

The Havre defense played strong in the second half by recording a safety and only allowing Livingston to score once. Through most of the second half, the Ponies had most of their backups in close the game. As the game came to an end, the end of their careers began to set in for the HHS seniors.

"It's a little bit of happiness and sadness," Tommerup said about the emotions of senior night. "It's hard to see all this hard work over four years just end all of a sudden right here in the home stadium."

HHS football will end the regular season with a road game against Laurel on Thursday night.

Havre 57, Livingston 8

LIV - 0 0 0 8 - 8

HAV - 21 34 0 2 - 57

HAV - Brody Nanini 22 pass from Trenton Maloughney (Lukas Fahl)

HAV - Orion Thivierge 60 run (Fahl kick)

HAV - Kale VanCampen 3 run (Kick failed)

HAV - Randy Tommerup 3 run (Fahl kick)

HAV - Jason Wold fumble return (Fahl kick)

HAV - Colter Solomon pick six (Fahl kick)

HAV - Justin Rosgaard 3 run (Fahl kick)

HAV - Maloughney 13 run (Fahl kick)

HAV - Safety

LIV - 14 pass (Run good)