Grant's Marcus Harris has returned six kicks for touchdowns this season. (Photo by Mark Going)

Looking back on how his first season as Grant’s football coach has unfolded, John Beck sees lots of missed opportunities.

The Generals came out unprepared for a loss to Newberg. They wasted a chance to extend a second-half lead against West Salem by failing to score from the one-yard line, eventually losing. And in a loss to Barlow, they again couldn’t score from the one-yard line.

“We feel like if we would’ve played good football, we’d be undefeated right now,” Beck said. “We wouldn’t mind playing anybody again that we played.”

As it stands, Grant is 5-3 overall, 4-0 in the 6A Portland Interscholastic League as it prepares for the regular-season finale Friday against rival Lincoln (4-4, 3-1). The Generals have fattened up on the lower half of the PIL, winning their last three games by running clock against teams with a combined record of 3-21.

Grant has clinched a share of the league title and can win it outright by beating the Cardinals. If the Generals lose, they could end up in a three-way tie for first place with Lincoln and Roosevelt (6-2, 3-1).

A win over Lincoln, which has won the last three meetings between the teams, would mean a lot not only in the standings, but in the way Grant measures its success for this season.

“It’s a really big deal for the neighborhood,” said Beck, who won four conference titles in 13 seasons at Crater (2004-16). “Lot of bragging rights.”

To have a chance against Lincoln, the Generals need to slow down Cardinals senior running back Nicholas Ostmo.

“He is one of the best backs in the state,” Beck said. “They run that fly offense really well. They are sound. If they control the football on us, and just drive and score, and we’re struggling a little bit, it’s going to be tight.”

One of the most encouraging signs in Grant’s improvement has been the way his team is practicing, Beck said. The coach has put an emphasis on increasing the intensity and tempo of practice, and the players have responded.

“It’s gotten better and better,” Beck said. “Transitions are smooth. Kids understand how to practice now. That’s a big reason why we’ve been playing pretty well the last three or four weeks.”

Senior Marcus Harris has emerged as a big-play threat for Grant. He has six kick-return touchdowns – three kickoffs, three punts – and has caught four touchdown passes. He also has been dominant at cornerback.

“He’s a lock-down dude,” Beck said. “I’ve said he’s one of the most prolific players in the state, and I really believe that. I think he’s the best cover corner in the state. And he might be the best kick returner in the state.

“He’s definitely a weapon. I’m surprised he hasn’t gotten any offers. There’s a lot of interest from Division I schools, but no offers.”

Senior middle linebacker Gabe Hambrick also is having a big season, getting in on 100 tackles. Senior lineman Neal Bryan has excelled on both sides of the ball. And senior quarterback Sam Simril (nine touchdown passes, seven rushing touchdowns) has made steady progress.

“I don’t think there’s anybody we can’t play with, but there are some people that definitely have an advantage over us,” Beck said. “We have enough overall athletes that we can play with anybody.”

The future looks bright. Several sophomores are playing key roles, including running back/safety Dameion Phillips, slot/cornerback Timon Davis, linebacker Jamison Price and defensive end Brennick Beck. The freshman class has some of the best athletes in the city, according to Beck, in particular 6-foot-3 receiver Max Von Arx. Grant’s frosh/soph team has gone undefeated.

The potential is there. Having it come to fruition is Beck’s task.

“It’s different here, where the school system isn’t set up for football success,” Beck said. “It’s going to take a culture change. But I’m up for the challenge.”

A look at other top games in Week 9:

6A

No. 1 Clackamas (8-0, 3-0 Mt. Hood Conference) vs. No. 7 Central Catholic (5-3, 3-0) at Hillsboro Stadium: The Mt. Hood’s two division winners meet to decide the conference title. Reigning state champion Clackamas, which has won 22 in a row, ended Central Catholic’s run of nine conference titles last year, then knocked the Rams out of the playoffs in the quarterfinals.

No. 10 Lakeridge (6-2, 3-1 Three Rivers League) at No. 2 Lake Oswego (7-1, 4-0): It’s been a while since the Battle of the Lake meant so much. Lake Oswego can claim its first outright league title since 2012 with a win. Red-hot Lakeridge, which has won four in a row, could force a tie at the top with the Lakers and possibly Tigard.

No. 5 Tigard (7-1, 3-1 Three Rivers) at No. 8 Tualatin (6-2, 1-2): Some of the shine of this game has come off since both teams got off to 6-0 starts, but there’s still plenty at stake in the district rivalry. The Tigers still have a chance to share the league title, and both teams are fighting to secure home field deep into the playoffs. In the OSAA power rankings, Tigard is fifth and Tualatin is eighth.

Grants Pass (6-2, 2-1 Southwest Conference) at No. 4 Sheldon (6-2, 3-0): Grants Pass is coming off its most impressive performance of the season, rolling over South Medford 28-7 by outgaining the Panthers 394-115. If the Cavemen can slow down Sheldon’s high-powered offense, led by Penn State-bound quarterback Michael Johnson Jr., they could have a shot at sharing the conference title with the Irish.

5A

No. 3 Pendleton (8-0, 6-0 Northwest Oregon Conference) at No. 1 Wilsonville (8-0, 6-0): The Buckaroos and Wildcats meet to determine the conference title. Wilsonville senior quarterback Nathan Overholt, who has thrown 38 touchdown passes, will be tested by a defense that has allowed 95 points, the second fewest in 5A. Pendleton is looking to complete a perfect regular season for the first time since 2005.

No. 5 Silverton (7-1, 7-1 Mid-Willamette Conference) at No. 4 West Albany (8-0, 8-0): West Albany, back in the Mid-Willamette after four years of playing in 6A, must win to avoid sharing the title with the Foxes. The Bulldogs have held opponents to a 5A-low 55 points, but Silverton has a fourth-year starter at quarterback in Levi Nielsen, who returned last week after missing four games with knee injury.

No. 6 Thurston (6-2, 5-0 Special District 2) at No. 2 Churchill (7-1, 5-0): Churchill beat Thurston 42-23 in the opener, but that was a nonleague game. Now they play for the district title. Thurston’s offense, featuring running back Wes Kommer, has been in high gear in recent weeks, but the Colts defense must come to play. In the first meeting, Churchill quarterback Demontre Thomas II threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns, two to Marshaun Tucker Jr., who had 13 catches for 204 yards.

4A

Tillamook (4-4) at Woodburn (5-3): In the play-in round, one team will end a long drought by earning a spot in the state playoffs. Woodburn, which hasn’t made the postseason since 1973, can punch its ticket with a win over the Cheesemakers, who haven’t made it since 2008. Woodburn’s three losses have come by a total of five points.

3A

No. 3 Cascade Christian (7-1, 4-0 Special District 2 South) at St. Mary’s (6-2, 4-0): Two of the better quarterbacks in 3A – Cascade Christian junior Kiegan Schaan (16 touchdown passes, 11 touchdown runs) and St. Mary’s junior Aliiloa Kaeo-Wailehua (21 touchdown passes, two interceptions) – go head-to-head in a game that will decide the district title. In last year’s game, Kiegan’s older brother, Haiden, passed for five touchdowns and ran for two scores as the Challengers won 70-14.

No. 5 Burns (7-1, 2-1 Special District 3) at No. 4 Vale (5-3, 3-0): Vale can wrap up the outright district title with a win, but a loss would drop the Vikings into a three-way tie for first place with Burns and Nyssa. Vale has won five in a row against Burns, including 12-7 last year. Burns is going for its first league title since 2014, when it played in the 2A Wapiti League.

1A (8-MAN)

No. 1 Dufur (8-0, 7-0 Special District 3 North) at No. 3 Wallowa (7-1, 6-0 1A Special District 3 South): Three-time reigning state champion Dufur will get its biggest test to date against the high-powered Cougars in the District 3 title game. Wallowa has won seven in a row since falling to No. 2 St. Paul 54-20 in the season opener. The teams haven’t met since the 2014 quarterfinals, when Dufur won 72-20.

1A (6-MAN)

No. 1 Joseph (8-0) vs. No. 4 McKenzie (6-1), Saturday, Madras High School: The unofficial state championship game for the first season of six-man football, highlighting a day of crossover games between the two divisions at Madras. Joseph’s closest game was a 27-16 win over South Wasco County. McKenzie’s only loss was 39-19 to Echo.