The Havre Football team is preparing to take on the Lockwood Lions for the second time this season when both take the field at Blue Pony Stadium on Friday night. The difference between game one and game two is that the stakes are much higher with it being the first round of Class ‘A’ State playoffs.
Havre coach Jake Eldridge told New Media Broadcasters what it is going to take to beat the same team twice in one season.
“It’s never easy playing someone a second time,” Eldridge said. “This time of the year, it just comes down to fundamentals and executing.”
“Everyone knows who you are and you know who you are,” Eldridge continued. “It’s about just going out there and executing your scheme, especially for four quarters because it’s going to be a ballgame like that, just like the last time.”
The last time resulted in an 11-9 victory for the Blue Ponies on the road back on Sep. 22 in which the Blue Ponies went for two points on a key touchdown drive as a result of a Lions offsides penalty on the point-after attempt and that made the difference after the defense stopped Lockwood on a two-point conversion attempt of their own towards the end of the game.
Kickoff of the game on Friday night is forecasted for temperatures in the teens and single digits. Coach Eldridge knows with the home field advantage that the team is going to have to adjust the gameplan in below-freezing temperatures.
“It plays a role and it’s going to be cold,” Eldridge said. “Whether there is going to be snow on the ground or not, it’s going to be a big impact, whether it’s just running the football more and securing the football and making sure you bring your feet when you tackle and stripping at the ball, there’s a lot that goes with it.”
“The things that you coach, you talk about, you preach and you work on, now we just have to out there and execute,” Eldridge continued.
With this being the end of the regular season and the start of the postseason, there is more desperation now than ever with this single-elimination playoff format. Coach Eldridge has gotten the message across to his team and knows the mentality that has to be shown in times like these.
“It’s win-or-go-home, though there’s that added bit of pressure,” Eldridge said. “You just try to focus on it being another football game.”
“We can’t focus on all the outside stuff and what it means if you win or lose or anything like that,” Eldridge continued. “You just have to play it one play at a time, one quarter at a time, one half at a time and then finish the game.”
“That’s what (the coaching staff) has been preaching to the kids,” Eldridge said. “They understand that it’s a big game. It’s the playoffs. It’s what they’ve been working for. We’re hoping to go on a bit of a run here.”
Listen to the Lockwood-Havre game on KOJM-610AM Friday night at 7pm with Noah Friedman on the call from Blue Pony Stadium.
