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FARMINGTON -- Teams tend to make a big improvement from Week 1 to Week 2.
The Oak Glen football team played a better game in Week 2 than in Week 1, however, Robert C. Byrd pulled away late en route to a 57-23 victory Friday night at home.
The Golden Bears will look to right the ship this week as Oak Glen plays North Marion at 7 p.m. Friday night on the road.
The Huskies enters this game undefeated on the season at 2-0.
The Golden Bears only trailed the Flying Eagles, 27-23, in the third quarter.
"We had a couple get hurt," first-year Oak Glen (0-2) head coach Doug Taylor said. "We played a very-good football team. They hit a couple deep passes on us.
"In the fourth quarter, we had some guys banged up, and they scored a couple of times on our JV at the end. The kids battled for three quarters.
"It was a lot better performance this week against talented Robert C. Byrd team. It was 27-23 with 6 or 7 minutes left in the third quarter. We were right there. It was a good ballgame."
Robert C. Byrd used some big plays in the passing game to pull away from Oak Glen, however, the Golden Bears will have to slow down a different type of offense this week as the Huskies like to run the football.
"North Marion is very physical," Taylor said. "They like to run the football. They will use three or four formations that they will run the ball out of. They run a spread wing.
"They have a good quarterback. Their quarterback likes to run. We just can't focus on their running back. We have to have our eyes on their quarterback as well."
The Huskies have an experienced group up front on the line.'
"They have a little more experience than we do," Taylor said. "They have more size."
North Marion has allowed 29 points in two games.
"Defensively, they are pretty solid," Taylor said. "They run a four-man front. They like to bring pressure. They are fundamentally sound. They are aggressive.
"We have to make sure we are in the right plays against them."
The Golden Bears will look to run the ball against the Huskies.
"Our philosophy has not changed," Taylor said. "They like to run. We like to run. We have talked before, and we have to stay ahead of the sticks. We have to maintain possession. We have to be able to control the ball. Hopefully, we can do what we do well. If not, it is going to be tough."
A piece of good news for the Golden Bears this week is the boys from Hancock County will get two starters back into the lineup. Aiden Flowers (WB/SS) and Wesley Molish (TE/LB) are set to play this week.
"Getting those two guys back is a big plus for us," Taylor said.
North Marion beat East Fairmont, 40-19, on the road and Preston 34-10 on the road.