Prepare for the best possible opponent each week and the rest will take care of itself.

Coach Lucas MacArthur and his Noxon Red Devil football team have not played since defeating Valier 37-33 in Noxon back on September 12 but will return to action this week playing at Power-Dutton-Brady Saturday.

The Devils will enter that game with a 2-0 conference record and 3-1 overall after Heart Butte forfeited last week’s scheduled game in Heart Butte. Ranked No. 10 in the most recent Montana 6-Man power poll, Power-Dutton-Brady defeated Alberton 36-6 last week.

MacArthur was disappointed that Heart Butte canceled last week. By the time Noxon takes the field Saturday it will be over three weeks between games for the Devils, a long stretch to go idle in any season.

“We are a pretty young team and need to play to more to get better,” he said. "We’ve been talking to the kids in practice, telling them we need to keep focused, to get dialed in and do the small things right, and getting the reps on the field is key to that.”

MacArthur says the Devils have been practicing each week with the thought that they need to prepare for the best team out there. “Games are won Monday through Thursday, not on Friday. We try to sell the idea that the team we are going to play this week is the best team out there,” he said. "That we need to play our best game if we hope to win.”

He said the mood is good in the Noxon locker room. “The kids are having fun, staying positive,” MacArthur said. “We are looking for a good game with Power this week.”