Posted by (+6126) 12 years ago
I originally posted this in another thread, which has since derailed. To keep the focus where it belongs (on the Cowboys), I am reposting it here:
Here are the playoff matchups for next weekend:
Billings Central (8-0, 5-0 Eastern 'A') - Bye
Dillon (8-0, 5-0 Southwestern 'A') - Bye
Butte Central (8-1, 5-0 Central 'A') - Bye
Columbia Falls (4-4, 3-1 Northwestern 'A') - Bye
Havre (5-3, 3-2, 3C) at Miles City (8-1, 4-1, 2E) (MC d. Havre 34-14 earlier this season). Winner travels to Columbia Falls.
Laurel (5-4, 3-2, 3E) at Belgrade (7-2, 4-1, 2C). Winner travels to Dillon.
Polson (5-4, 3-2, 3NW) at Frenchtown (5-4, 4-1, 2SW). (Polson d. Frenchtown 21-16 in the season-opener for both teams). Winner travels to Butte Central.
Stevensville (6-3, 3-2, 3SW) at Libby (5-4, 3-1, 2NW). Winner travels to Billings Central.
Clearly, the Cowboys put themselves in a much better position by winning on Friday than Laurel did by losing. Miles City has a home game rematch against a team it beat handily on the road and will face the weakest of the four division winners (although CF does have one of the best running backs in the state) with a victory. If the Cowboys advance to the semifinals, the game would be at home, as would a championship game (unless it's against Billings Central).
Laurel, on the other hand, has to beat a very tough Belgrade team to earn the right to face undefeated Dillon. I do not envy the Locomotives. Unless they win out, they will be on the road for the entire playoffs (unless they face BC in the chipper).
It's still far too early to make any plans, but the possibility exists for a MC-Dillon showdown in the semifinals. At Denton Field.
First thing first, of course. Good luck against Havre, Cowboys!
Here is the (recent) history between the Cowboys and Blue Ponies:
1986 - Havre 35, Miles City 14 - A regular season game, the road loss knocked the Cowboys (5-3) out of playoff contention. This was Havre's first - and only - season in the Eastern 'A' Conference after dropping from Class AA. The Blue Ponies (8-3) finished second (to Glasgow) in the Northern subdivision of the Eastern 'A' and reached the semifinals of the state playoffs before losing to Whitefish, 25-7.
1994 - Miles City 43, Havre 7 - The Cowboys (11-0) destroyed the Blue Ponies (7-4) at Denton Field to win their first state championship since 1985 and complete Miles City's first perfect season. Joe Baker rushed for 204 yards and 3 touchdowns on 15 carries and Ryan Wagner caught 3 passes for 128 yards and two scores. Bryan Larson was 4-6-138-2-0 passing in a near-perfect game. The 43 points scored are the most ever in a Class A state championship game.
1996 - Miles City 38, Havre 14 - Quarterfinal playoff - Havre coach Scott Sward said before the game that this team "WANTED Miles City." The Cowboys (9-2) ruined the Blue Ponies (8-1) perfect season on Havre's home field (the first of three previously-undefeated teams Miles City beat en route to the Cowboys' third consecutive state title). Jeremy Pyle (9-151-1), Trenton Thorne (12-103-1), Jase Wagner (18-87-2) and Joel Woods (19-66-1) helped the Cowboys rush for a team playoff record 407 yards.
2002 - Havre 19, Miles City 12 - The Blue Ponies (7-4) returned the favor six seasons later, handing the Cowboys (9-1) their only loss of the season in the semifinal contest. Miles City's offense could neiter get untracked on Havre's frozen field nor slow down the Blue Ponies' tandem of all-state tracksters Steve Heberly and Steven Harman.
2003 - Miles City 20, Havre 12 - A rematch of the season before, this game was played at Denton Field and featured a near-reverse of the 2002 contest's final score. Taylor Harris' school-record 47-yard field goal helped atone for his only two missed extra point kicks a season before in Havre. The Cowboys (10-1) sacked Blue Pony (10-2) quarterback Gary Wagner eight times for minus-67 yards.
2010 - Miles City 34, Havre 14 - In Havre earlier this season, the Cowboys (8-1) rushed for 378 yards on 52 carries to help ground the Blue Ponies (5-3) offense that had generated 66 points against Whitefish in their previous game. Shane Cooley (15-179-3 rushing) and Tyler Essex (20-137-0) embarrassed Havre's defense. Cooley had a school-record 3 (of the Cowboys' 5) picks on defense and helped limit the Blue Ponies to minus-2 yards rushing.
Here are the playoff matchups for next weekend:
Billings Central (8-0, 5-0 Eastern 'A') - Bye
Dillon (8-0, 5-0 Southwestern 'A') - Bye
Butte Central (8-1, 5-0 Central 'A') - Bye
Columbia Falls (4-4, 3-1 Northwestern 'A') - Bye
Havre (5-3, 3-2, 3C) at Miles City (8-1, 4-1, 2E) (MC d. Havre 34-14 earlier this season). Winner travels to Columbia Falls.
Laurel (5-4, 3-2, 3E) at Belgrade (7-2, 4-1, 2C). Winner travels to Dillon.
Polson (5-4, 3-2, 3NW) at Frenchtown (5-4, 4-1, 2SW). (Polson d. Frenchtown 21-16 in the season-opener for both teams). Winner travels to Butte Central.
Stevensville (6-3, 3-2, 3SW) at Libby (5-4, 3-1, 2NW). Winner travels to Billings Central.
Clearly, the Cowboys put themselves in a much better position by winning on Friday than Laurel did by losing. Miles City has a home game rematch against a team it beat handily on the road and will face the weakest of the four division winners (although CF does have one of the best running backs in the state) with a victory. If the Cowboys advance to the semifinals, the game would be at home, as would a championship game (unless it's against Billings Central).
Laurel, on the other hand, has to beat a very tough Belgrade team to earn the right to face undefeated Dillon. I do not envy the Locomotives. Unless they win out, they will be on the road for the entire playoffs (unless they face BC in the chipper).
It's still far too early to make any plans, but the possibility exists for a MC-Dillon showdown in the semifinals. At Denton Field.
First thing first, of course. Good luck against Havre, Cowboys!
Here is the (recent) history between the Cowboys and Blue Ponies:
1986 - Havre 35, Miles City 14 - A regular season game, the road loss knocked the Cowboys (5-3) out of playoff contention. This was Havre's first - and only - season in the Eastern 'A' Conference after dropping from Class AA. The Blue Ponies (8-3) finished second (to Glasgow) in the Northern subdivision of the Eastern 'A' and reached the semifinals of the state playoffs before losing to Whitefish, 25-7.
1994 - Miles City 43, Havre 7 - The Cowboys (11-0) destroyed the Blue Ponies (7-4) at Denton Field to win their first state championship since 1985 and complete Miles City's first perfect season. Joe Baker rushed for 204 yards and 3 touchdowns on 15 carries and Ryan Wagner caught 3 passes for 128 yards and two scores. Bryan Larson was 4-6-138-2-0 passing in a near-perfect game. The 43 points scored are the most ever in a Class A state championship game.
1996 - Miles City 38, Havre 14 - Quarterfinal playoff - Havre coach Scott Sward said before the game that this team "WANTED Miles City." The Cowboys (9-2) ruined the Blue Ponies (8-1) perfect season on Havre's home field (the first of three previously-undefeated teams Miles City beat en route to the Cowboys' third consecutive state title). Jeremy Pyle (9-151-1), Trenton Thorne (12-103-1), Jase Wagner (18-87-2) and Joel Woods (19-66-1) helped the Cowboys rush for a team playoff record 407 yards.
2002 - Havre 19, Miles City 12 - The Blue Ponies (7-4) returned the favor six seasons later, handing the Cowboys (9-1) their only loss of the season in the semifinal contest. Miles City's offense could neiter get untracked on Havre's frozen field nor slow down the Blue Ponies' tandem of all-state tracksters Steve Heberly and Steven Harman.
2003 - Miles City 20, Havre 12 - A rematch of the season before, this game was played at Denton Field and featured a near-reverse of the 2002 contest's final score. Taylor Harris' school-record 47-yard field goal helped atone for his only two missed extra point kicks a season before in Havre. The Cowboys (10-1) sacked Blue Pony (10-2) quarterback Gary Wagner eight times for minus-67 yards.
2010 - Miles City 34, Havre 14 - In Havre earlier this season, the Cowboys (8-1) rushed for 378 yards on 52 carries to help ground the Blue Ponies (5-3) offense that had generated 66 points against Whitefish in their previous game. Shane Cooley (15-179-3 rushing) and Tyler Essex (20-137-0) embarrassed Havre's defense. Cooley had a school-record 3 (of the Cowboys' 5) picks on defense and helped limit the Blue Ponies to minus-2 yards rushing.