Pirates get ready to host Loggers for homecoming
POLSON TACKLERS Hunter Fritsch, Andrey Bauer, Bradon Williams and Kyle Druyvestein converge on the Ronan running back. The Pirates will look to get their first win as they host Libby for their homecoming night at 7 p.m. at Polson High School. (Jason Blasco/Lake County Leader)
POLSON PIRATE quarterback Bo Kelley attempts to throw a pass in the Ronan-Polson rivarly game Friday night at Ronan High School. Kelley looks to lead the Pirates to theri first victory against Libby at 7 p.m. Friday night at Polson High School. (Jason Blasco/Lake County Leader)
After losing the first three non-conference games and the first conference game 32-19 at the hands of their rival Ronan, the Polson Pirates football team will try to rebound at their homecoming game against Libby Friday night at Polson High School.
The Pirates remaining games on their schedule include Libby, Whitefish, Browning, and Columbia Falls.
Because of the team’s strength of schedule, Danley knows the team has to win now or risk watching the postseason. Last year, the Pirates captured the conference championship, a first-round bye and hosted a home playoff game against Billings Central.
“Against all of these teams, our margin for error is very small,” Danley admitted. “There is no more time to mess around at this point. We just have to play well and see what we can do.”
Libby is a team that has a mobile quarterback that likes to run the ball, Danley said.
“Their strength is try to run the ball,” Danley said. “We know they are going to try to run the ball with their quarterback. If we can stop him, that is going to help our chance tremendously. He runs behind the same option and that has been in games where they’ve gotten behind and had to get away from it. Because of this, we must stop them early and try to force them to throw a lot.”
One of the Pirates’ biggest struggles offensively have been getting off to slow starts, Danley said. The Pirates have yet to generate a single touchdown in the first quarter of any regular season game this season.
“We have just not been able to establish momentum early in any game,” Danley said.
Polson, who recently got back KobyGarcia, began establishing offensive momentum at the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half against Ronan.
“Having Koby back really helps establish our run threat,” Danley said.
The Pirates might possibly get Colton Cote back on the roster as well. If the Pirates can get their starting running back combination it would help tremendously, according to Danley.
“If everything goes well, we should get back Colton Cote,” Danley said. “He would help a ton. We would essentially be back at full strength at this point. If we could get him back soon that would be a tremendous help.”
Against Libby, Danley anticipates a number of different looks defensively.
“They are going to like to apply a fair amount of pressure,” Danley said. “Their strength is to run the ball. They have struggled like us and this is a team we should be able to play with. We are going to have to have a good amount of practice to get there.”
With homecoming comes distractions but Danley said he didn’t think it would mess with his team as they prepare to fight to get back into contention for a postseason slot.
“We showed we want these guys to participate in all of that stuff but it doesn’t do us any good if we don’t’ win the game,” Danley said. “It’s not worth losing focus on our real job which is to get a win Friday night.”
The Pirates will look for their first victory against Libby Friday night at Polson High School.