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Pirates open league play at home
By Rachel Finney, Sports Writer
Wednesday, October 07, 2009 | No comments posted.
After a three-game road stint, Marshfield opens up Midwestern League play at home Thursday as the Pirates host Churchill.
Starting 3-2, including going 2-1 in three straight away games, the Pirates look to better their 3-2 league finish last year with first-year head coach Justin Ainsworth and second-year starting quarterback Kyle Tedder.
“Overall we’re feeling pretty good,” Tedder said. “We had a quality preseason. It was definitely no cakewalk.”
Despite the difficult preseason schedule, including a tough loss last week at Jefferson which thoroughly out-sized Marshfield, Tedder said the team has taken some lessons away from the nonconference schedule.
“Now we know we can play on the road,” he said.
Ainsworth agreed, pointing out that each opponent offered something different.
“We played quality people and we played against different styles of football,” Ainsworth said. “We were exposed to a lot of different things.
“It’s a long preseason. We’ve been all up and down I-5,” he said. “It’ll make us a tough team mentally.”
The Pirates will need the experience to take on the Lancers, who beat Marshfield the past two seasons.
“We’re looking for a little redemption with Churchill since they got us the last two years,” Tedder said.
Ainsworth said his defense will have to defend Sam Graham, Churchill’s top wide receiver who is one of the better receivers in the league. He also said the Lancers have a tough secondary, and the Pirates will need to run the ball effectively.
Tedder is confident Marshfield can handle Churchill on both sides of the ball.
“We’ll try to spread it out a little bit and make them vulnerable on the outside,” Tedder said. “They run the zone read a lot, which suits our defense well.”
Ainsworth said the Lancers will most likely vie for a chance at the postseason.
“It’s just a big game. Both teams are playing for a playoff spot,” Ainsworth said. “It’s exciting to lead the league off with Churchill.”
Last year, Marshfield overcame a league-opening 24-12 loss to the Lancers in Eugene to win three straight games and finish in a three-way tie with Churchill and Springfield for second place in the league standings. The Pirates won a card drawing to advance to the playoffs as the league’s No. 2 seed, with the Lancers No. 3 and Springfield left out.
In 2007, Churchill edged the Pirates 14-13 in Coos Bay and went on to finish in third place, one game in front of Marshfield, as the Pirates were denied a playoff berth.
Churchill had the league’s best preseason record at 4-1, with wins over Summit, Dallas, Mazama and Eagle Point and a loss to Class 6A Sheldon.
Thurston lost to Class 6A South Eugene and beat Corvallis, South Albany and North Salem to finish 3-1. Thurston plays at Willamette, which beat Ashland but lost to South Eugene, North Medford, Klamath Union and South Albany in the preseason to finish 1-4.
Springfield (2-3) opened league play two weeks ago with a win over North Eugene (2-2). Those teams both play nonleague games on Friday, with Springfield hosting Sherwood and North Eugene visiting Parkrose.
Starting 3-2, including going 2-1 in three straight away games, the Pirates look to better their 3-2 league finish last year with first-year head coach Justin Ainsworth and second-year starting quarterback Kyle Tedder.
“Overall we’re feeling pretty good,” Tedder said. “We had a quality preseason. It was definitely no cakewalk.”
Despite the difficult preseason schedule, including a tough loss last week at Jefferson which thoroughly out-sized Marshfield, Tedder said the team has taken some lessons away from the nonconference schedule.
“Now we know we can play on the road,” he said.
Ainsworth agreed, pointing out that each opponent offered something different.
“We played quality people and we played against different styles of football,” Ainsworth said. “We were exposed to a lot of different things.
“It’s a long preseason. We’ve been all up and down I-5,” he said. “It’ll make us a tough team mentally.”
The Pirates will need the experience to take on the Lancers, who beat Marshfield the past two seasons.
“We’re looking for a little redemption with Churchill since they got us the last two years,” Tedder said.
Ainsworth said his defense will have to defend Sam Graham, Churchill’s top wide receiver who is one of the better receivers in the league. He also said the Lancers have a tough secondary, and the Pirates will need to run the ball effectively.
Tedder is confident Marshfield can handle Churchill on both sides of the ball.
“We’ll try to spread it out a little bit and make them vulnerable on the outside,” Tedder said. “They run the zone read a lot, which suits our defense well.”
Ainsworth said the Lancers will most likely vie for a chance at the postseason.
“It’s just a big game. Both teams are playing for a playoff spot,” Ainsworth said. “It’s exciting to lead the league off with Churchill.”
Last year, Marshfield overcame a league-opening 24-12 loss to the Lancers in Eugene to win three straight games and finish in a three-way tie with Churchill and Springfield for second place in the league standings. The Pirates won a card drawing to advance to the playoffs as the league’s No. 2 seed, with the Lancers No. 3 and Springfield left out.
In 2007, Churchill edged the Pirates 14-13 in Coos Bay and went on to finish in third place, one game in front of Marshfield, as the Pirates were denied a playoff berth.
Churchill had the league’s best preseason record at 4-1, with wins over Summit, Dallas, Mazama and Eagle Point and a loss to Class 6A Sheldon.
Thurston lost to Class 6A South Eugene and beat Corvallis, South Albany and North Salem to finish 3-1. Thurston plays at Willamette, which beat Ashland but lost to South Eugene, North Medford, Klamath Union and South Albany in the preseason to finish 1-4.
Springfield (2-3) opened league play two weeks ago with a win over North Eugene (2-2). Those teams both play nonleague games on Friday, with Springfield hosting Sherwood and North Eugene visiting Parkrose.
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