Blue Ponies host undefeated Billings Central tonight

Tonight, the Havre High football team is set to face off against Billings Central at Blue Pony Stadium. Billings Central enters the contest with an undefeated record, so HHS head coach Jake Eldridge expects a tough game for the Blue Ponies tonight.

"It's going to be a good ball game with a really good football team coming to town," Eldridge said. "We expect to be another really good ball game versus a very physical football team."

The Billings Central Rams come into the game with a 3-0 record. They have won all three of their games by at least 29 points, so they have faced little adversity yet this fall. Meanwhile, the Ponies have a 2-1 record so far this year.

The Rams offense is off to a hot start averaging 43.67 points a game this year. Running back Kade Boyd returns for his senior year after earning all-state honors last season. He will have many players blocking for him tonight including fullback Clay Oven and offensive linemen Seth Benge and Maddox Roberts. Along with blocking in the running game, tight end Hunter Doyle should also be a threat to catch the ball tonight.

The Rams defense has been lights out this fall, only allowing 8.33 points a game. Outside linebacker Oven and defensive lineman Benge lead the defense after all-state seasons last fall. Boyd also had a first-team all-conference year at strong safety last year, so he will be a player to watch out for in the secondary.

Another player in the secondary the Ponies will need to account for is Preston Hubley, who earned second-team all-conference honors last year. In the middle, inside linebacker Xavier Brackenridge will look to slow down the Ponies running attack.

"(They have a) really physical defense," Eldridge said. "They do multiple things. They move some guys around and keep you off balance."

The HHS offense has a tough task ahead of it, so the Ponies' best players will need to play great. Quarterback Kale Van Campen will need to have a clean and efficient game to help the Ponies move the chains. So far this season, he has completed 48.2 percent of his passes for 435 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

Van Campen has several options to throw to in this game. Tre Gary leads the team with eight catches for 174 yards this season. Hunter Sawdey has also been a playmaker with seven catches for 120 yards and two touchdowns this fall. Van Campen can also make plays on the ground as he leads the team with 31 rushes for 154 yards this season. But Eldridge knows the Ponies will not be able to gain traction if the offensive line is unable to control the game.

"We've got to win the line of scrimmage on offense. We've got to be better up front," Eldridge said. "We have to be able to control their defensive line and their linebackers coming downhill."

Along with the offense, the HHS defense and special teams will have to play well tonight. The Rams will be the best team the Ponies have faced so far this season, so mistakes will have to be at a minimum and the Ponies cannot let any opportunities slip away from them tonight.

"We have to execute all the way around. We've been getting better, week in and week out but this week we've got to be really good," Eldridge said. "We just got to play good clean football and we're going to have to play a 48-minute ball game."

The HHS football team will kick off against Billings Central tonight at 6 p.m. at Blue Pony Stadium.