The Havre Blue Ponies football team fell in the semifinals of the Class ‘A’ state playoffs this past weekend to Laurel, (35-28). New Media Broadcasters caught up with head coach Jake Eldridge and he expressed immense pride for the effort his kids gave.
“That last one is always hard when you’re not the last team walking off the field happy,” Eldridge said. “Really, the message is just that one game didn’t define what this team was.”
“These guys had a tremendous season,” Eldridge continued. (I’m) being appreciative of what we had and the kind of work that we put in and the relationships we built and where we’re at as a program.”
“I just really thank the kids and tell them to hold their heads high and be proud of who they are and who they represent,” Eldridge said. “It was tough of course, but I’m really super proud of them.”
Havre finished with another step in the right direction for 2024. The football team has progressed to the next round of playoffs every season Eldridge has been the head coach, including making the state semifinal for the first time since 2015. He took the time to thank his 2024 team and said what their legacy would be, especially as it pertains to Havre as a whole.
“Yeah, (they’re) just great role models,” Eldridge said. “They embody everything that we look for in our program: kids (who) are going to work hard and be accountable, right? And have discipline and then care about one another.”
“These kids, they’re great,” Eldridge continued. “They come from great families and this is a great community that really supports them and supports us.”
“We’ve got a lot of really good people that support this program and that are in this community (of Havre) that we’re super proud to be a part of,” Eldridge said.
The Ponies finished (8-4) in 2024 and will lose six seniors to graduation.
