It was business as usual for the Havre football team over the weekend, taking care of Hardin in the season opener on the road, (55-6). New Media Broadcasters spoke with head coach Jake Eldridge about the victory and asked what he liked the most about the output in all phases of the game.
“It’s always great to go on the road and be able to get a win,” Eldridge said. “(I’m) super proud of our kids for traveling well and just going out and competing and executing like they did.”
“It was great to see all three phases of the game have success: both offense, defense, and then special teams obviously came up huge,” Eldridge continued. “Especially our kickoff team. We got some fumbles on those units a couple of times.”
“We got an opportunity to get a lot of kids a lot of reps,” Eldridge said. “We’re starting to develop some depth, so some of the kids that maybe aren’t starters got a chance to play a lot of football on Friday. It was really good for them.”
With the eye-popping 55 points scored to open the season, Coach Eldridge dialed in on the offense that he has coming back to his team. From all-state standouts Tre Gary and Tate Nelson to junior quarterback Griffin Terry, the Blue Ponies are loaded with weapons across the offensive aisle. However, Eldridge has always preached that it starts with the boys up front.
“We know who those guys are, right?” Eldridge said in reference to his skill players. “They’re some of the better football players here in the state: Tre Gary, obviously Tate Nelson, Colter Solomon, quarterback Griff(in Terry).”
“But in all reality, those guys can’t do what they do unless it’s the big boys up front executing,” Eldridge continued. “We put a lot on our offensive line and really, that’s the highlight for me is those guys are really starting to gel and they understand what we’re trying to do.”
“It’s great to have those guys clicking up front to allow all these skills guys to be able to go out and do what they do,” Eldridge said.
Stay tuned later this week for a breakdown of the young defense the Blue Ponies have and what it will take to knock off one of the best teams in the state, Billings Central Catholic, as the teams lock horns this Friday night.
