Coming off a hard-fought 33-28 win over a talented Ashland team at home that moved the Marshfield football team to 2-1 in preseason play, the Pirates have reason to feel confident.

“To beat a very good football team in a close ball game has to help your confidence,” said Marshfield coach Kent Wigle. “I think that we’ve improved each week. I’m pleased with the progress,  but we have to keep making that progress.”

And the Pirates will have their hands full Friday night, when they’ll host Grants Pass, a squad that Wigle thinks might just be the best team on Marshfield’s schedule.

Class 6A Grants Pass is 3-0 on the season, having outscored Hood River, Centennial and Oregon City by a grand total of 115-17.

The Cavemen run a spread offense, opening things up for explosive tailback Criss Bowen. Quarterback Jordy Romick is also a running threat for Grants Pass, and the Cavemen sometimes cycle in another running quarterback, Justin Hoy.

“They’re both threats to run the football,” said Wigle. “If they fake the ball to Bowen going one way and keep it back going the other way, you have to be disciplined on defense.”

For Marshfield to stay in the game, the Pirates will have to tackle and compete at the line against the Cavemen, said Wigle. He thought in the Ashland game, his players were fatigued in the second half and their defense suffered for it. That can’t happen against Grants Pass.

“We got tired. Our conditioning needs to get better. ” said Wigle of the Ashland game. “We’re just trying to get more physical. With everyone running the spread (offense), we need to work on our open-field tackling.”

Grants Pass is a team with 28 seniors and a monstrous front line that manhandles opponents and makes gaping holes for Bowen and Romick.

“The battle in the trenches is going to be real important,” said Wigle. “They have three returners back (on the line). When you have 28 seniors, you’re going to have some good players.”

Offensively Marshfield this week has been trying to add a few new things, including the missing components of a total screen package. But mainly Wigle’s just been trying to get as many offensive repetitions in as possible.

Marshfield has its own corps of veteran linemen, but Wigle still thinks his Pirates may have to adjust it’s game plan to avoid the monstrous front line of the Cavemen.

“(The Cavemen) are going to be a more physical team than Ashland,” said Wigle. “So we may need to throw the ball a little bit more.”

Marshfield quarterback Kyle Tedder was effective against Ashland, but mainly on the ground — he rushed 18 times for 188 yards and two touchdowns. Tedder was just 4-for-6 for 30 yards passing, with no interceptions and a touchdown.

If the Pirates have to go aerial against Grants Pass, Tedder will face a serious test. Wigle says he thinks his starter is up to the challenge.

“He’s doing well,” said Wigle of Tedder. “He’s improved each week. That’s what you want to see.”