MYRTLE  POINT — Grant Union is ranked No. 2 in the final Class 3A football poll.

But that doesn’t matter to Myrtle Point, which heads into this week’s first-round matchup in the Class 3A playoffs brimming with confidence.

“No. 2 — it’s just a number,” said Myrtle Point’s Sean Andy. “Polls are overrated.

“Two years ago, we played Nyssa, the No. 2 team in the state, and took them to the wire.”

That game was Myrtle Point’s last playoff contest. The Bobcats are thrilled to be back in the postseason, even if it means a long trip to John Day to play the Prospectors on Saturday.

“I’m happy being (in the playoffs) my senior year,” said Scott Clark, one of the Bobcats’ team leaders.

Myrtle Point is 8-2 on  the season — the losses to top-ranked Gold Beach and to Cascade Christian. That’s two more losses than Grant Union, which won all nine of its games and took the title in the Eastern Oregon League.

“They’re good,” said Myrtle Point coach John Marquez. “They’re disciplined. They don’t make mistakes.”

Grant Union coach Monty Nash said his team is loaded with experience.

“I’ve got a senior-dominated team,” he said of his group, which features 15 seniors, including Austin Ranft, a two-year starter at quarterback, and running back Tyler Martin, co-MVP of the league.

The Prospectors like to run the ball — Martin has about 900 yards on the season — but Ranft also will pass the ball to either senior flanker Dustin Lippert or junior split end Dalton Moore.

Marquez is concerned about the Prospectors’ playmakers, but said his team will match up as well as possible.

“We’re going to match up some of our best players against their best players,” Marquez said, adding that Andy, James Brown and Dylan Wilson will draw defensive assignments against Grant Union’s receivers.

Marquez is confident in his team’s defense.

“Our defense has been the backbone of our team,” he said. “And our offense has stepped up in several games when they had to to win.”

The biggest role for Myrtle Point’s offense this week might not be scoring, so much as controlling the clock.

“Our goal is to keep the offense on the field,” Marquez said. “We can’t have any three-and-outs.”

Clark, who is the Bobcats’ top running back, said the team will need an air attack to win.

“We’ve got to be able to throw the ball,” he said.

Myrtle Point will try to use short passes to keep the chains moving and provide enough points to keep the score close. If the Bobcats can do that, they like their chances.

“If we can hold them to the fourth quarter, we’ve proven many times that we can pull it out in the end,” Clark said.

The Bobcats rallied late to beat Glide and Bandon and held off Coquille and Reedsport in the final quarter. They also finished strong in their three non-league wins against Class 4A schools.

Myrtle Point won’t be intimidated by Grant Union’s size.

“They’ve got some talented guys, but it’s not like we don’t,” Clark said. “We can match up with them.

“They’re fast and (we’re) quick. That’s where I think we can get an edge on them.”

Another key surely will be discipline, though. Myrtle Point had far too many penalties in the regular-season finale against Reedsport last week and Grant Union makes few mistakes.

“We need to keep to the fundamentals, doing everything right,” Andy said.

Nash has great respect for the Bobcats.

“John’s done a good job,” he said. “They’ve learned how to win a little bit. The way they’ve battled to win shows they’ve learned.”

He is grateful that Myrtle Point is the team doing the traveling.

“If we have an advantage, it’s being at home,” he said.

The Bobcats aren’t daunted by the long trip.

“We’re going down there to do a job,” Marquez said. “That’s the mentality we’re taking this week. It’s not a vacation. It’s not a field trip.”

“We don’t want to go nine hours and come back losers,” Clark said.

Both coaches are excited about the postseason and what it means for their teams.

“It’s fun this time of year,” Nash said. “We relish the challenge. We’re hoping we can do our job.”

Marquez, who is completing his first year as head coach, said the players have been focused through the spring and summer.

“Overall, I’m ecstatic with what these guys have done,” he said. “This is a long year for them. The attitudes are great.”

Notes: Admission for Saturday’s game, which kicks off at 1 p.m., is $6 for adults and $4 for students. ... The teams also met in the Class 3A quarterfinals in 2002 at Marshfield’s Pete Susick Stadium. Myrtle Point won that game 33-0. ... Myrtle Point was No. 10 in the final coaches poll, while Gold Beach was No. 1. The Panthers open the playoffs against Warrenton on Saturday at Marshfield HighSchool.