The bad news for Marshfield’s football team is the Pirates came off last week’s Midwestern League opener against Churchill more beat up than they entered it.

“We’re short a bunch,” Marshfield coach Kent Wigle said, listing four starters who are injured: Chris Thomas, who had surgery on a torn medial collateral ligament this week; Jordan Chaplin, who has a back injury; Geoff Van Pulliam, who reinjured an ankle in last week’s loss to the Lancers; and Talo Silver, who has a hip injury.

The good news is this week’s opponent, North Eugene, probably is the easiest game on Marshfield’s schedule.

The Pirates visit the Highlanders Thursday night in the annual short week because of a statewide in-service day on Friday.

Wigle generally was pleased with his team’s effort after the first quarter last week, when Marshfield had the injuries and also was missing quarterback Kyle Tedder and linebacker Chris Cordova, who had been ejected from the previous week’s game.

“The defense played well after the first quarter,” he said. “They improved a great deal.”

Wigle also noted that Marshfield had about 230 yards of offense, roughly the same as the Lancers.

“We did a lot of good things,” he said. “We just turned the ball over five times and they turned it over twice. Consequently, we came out on the short end of the stick.”

Van Pulliam filled in well for Tedder until he was tackled from behind on an option run late in the second quarter, re-spraining his ankle. The Marshfield offense sputtered after that.

The injury to Van Pulliam also hurts the Pirates on defense, since he is a starting free safety.

Tedder’s return is big because he has more mobility at quarterback, and also because he is the team’s kicker and punter.

“Kyle helps us immensely in the field position and the kicking game,” Wigle said.

Wigle is wary of North Eugene, which is coming off its first win of the season, in a nonleague game against Parkrose.

“The win helps their confidence, and (the game is) on their home field,” he said.

North Eugene also has a good group of athletes coming up.

“They were undefeated with the freshmen last year and they have a lot of good young athletes,” Wigle said. “Their freshmen didn’t have a close game last year.”

Wigle is not concerned about the challenges of a short week.

“We had a good workout on Sunday and a good practice last night,” he said. “We’re ready to go.”

Marshfield traditionally has liked the short week each fall, because it gives the players a chance for a long weekend when they can go hunting or relax and take a short break from football.

“It gives them some time off,” Wigle said. “We’ll give them Friday and Saturday off and probably have them come to the house for films on Sunday.”

Notes: Despite the short week, Marshfield’s booster club still will hold its regular weekly meeting Thursday. The group meets at noon at Abby’s Pizza. The Quarterback Club will hold its meeting at its regular 6:30 a.m. time Friday at the Coney Station.