Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Stephen Preputin, Havre High football

This fall, the Havre High football team has been resurgent with a 4-2 start to the season. Over the past two weeks, the Blue Ponies have found their rhythm on offense, averaging 26 points a game in a pair of wins. Senior offensive lineman Stephen Preputin has helped the Ponies find their stride as he believes the Ponies are playing their best football in a long time.

"There's a lot more pride," Preputin said. "We come hungry every day to practice. There's never a dull moment. There's never a slow moment. It's a hundred miles an hour while you have the pads on."

This weekend, the Ponies will celebrate their homecoming game with a contest against Lockwood. The Ponies have not had the most success in their homecoming games during Preputin's career, so he hopes the Ponies can rectify that his final time out. He also looks forward to seeing the support of the Havre community this weekend.

"I look forward to the parade. Seeing the pride in Havre that they have for our school and what that Blue Pony means upon everybody's heart," Preputin said. "I'm excited for this Friday and so is the rest of the team and we're hungry for a win."

Against Lockwood, the Ponies will be looking to win their third game in a row. The streak started a few weeks ago with the Ponies defeating Miles City, 26-0, on the road. The Ponies have had their struggles against the Cowboys over the past few seasons, so defeating them was a sign this year's Ponies were different.

"We haven't beat them since I've been in high school so that was big for our school and our program," Preputin said.

This will be Preputin's final year in the program before graduating next year. After high school, he is looking at playing hockey. He is looking to play for a junior program in Bozeman but he also has options to play junior hockey in Texas or Sheridan, Wyoming, but he has not decided yet.

While he looks forward to the next part of his life, he will miss getting to play football with his friends. Along with playing his heart out this last season, he hopes to teach the younger players how to be better and to teach them how to appreciate their time in the program.

"It doesn't last forever," Preputin said. "I'm definitely going to miss it after this year is over and I can't wait to go to Blue Pony Stadium as a fan and watch the guys that I helped teach and watch them excel through their senior years."

Preputin and the Ponies will take on Lockwood in their homecoming game at Blue Pony Stadium this Friday at 6 p.m. Before Preputin lines up on the field this Friday, the Havre Daily News asked him five questions.

HDN: What has been behind the success of the offensive line the past two games?

Preputin: "We're never satisfied. We come to practice and we're hungry. We want to win the next game. We want to keep winning. The last two weeks were good wins but now it's this week. Last week didn't matter."

HDN: What's the hardest part about football?

Preputin: "Probably mental. Every rep as a lineman you have to be ready to beat the guy across the line from you, and every rep is physically demanding. It's mentally strenuous to know what to do every play."

HDN: What are the specific challenges of playing left tackle on the offensive line?

Preputin: "There's a lot more singular blocks. The guard and center work pretty neatly together, especially against three-man fronts. They can two-man block a lot but at tackle, you have to get moving, especially on pass protection. You have to set the depth of that pocket."

HDN: What do you hope to accomplish this season?

Preputin: "Hopefully a playoff run. I would like to make it to the semifinals but I'm here for my friends so if we can keep it going and if we can keep winning and we can keep playing together, then I'm happy."

HDN: Outside of school and sports, what do you do in your free time?

Preputin: "I like to farm with my dad. He's got a farm north of Havre. That's where I've worked every summer of my 18-year life and it's going to be hard to walk away from that if I end up going somewhere to play hockey. I do all kinds of motorsports such as snowmobiling and dirt biking. I love mechanic work so you can find me in a shop."