Last week was a confidence builder for the Red Devils.

This week is a chance to continue that momentum — and a chance to even the overall record at .500.

RHS travels to Marion on Friday in a battle of 1-0 North Central Conference teams. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

Richmond is 1-2 overall, Marion 2-1.

“We’re playing not so much against Marion, but we’re playing against ourselves,” said RHS coach Matt Holeva. “I know it sounds cliche, but we’re playing to be the best team that we can be, to play each play the best that we can play it.

“I think if we can do that and focus on the little things, on ourselves, I think the victory will take care of itself.”

Marion has taken care of two victories so far this season, the last being a 36-15 win over New Castle.

The Giants also defeated Madison-Grant 40-18 in Week 1. Marion also fell to Mount Vernon Fortville 42-22 on Aug. 24.

Against New Castle, Marion was up 28-0 by halftime. Shannon Fouce, Nick Hernandez and Will Collins all scored rushing touchdowns in the first half, and quarterback Niko Trevino connected with Jaylen Smith for a passing score.

Trevino found Smith for another TD in the second half.

“Marion, they don’t have great team size, but offensively, running the tight T, misdirection thing, that’s hard to simulate in practice,” Holeva said. “Their kids obviously do it pretty well. That’s a major concern, being able to stop them defensively.”

The RHS defense did pretty well for itself in the second half of last week’s 47-34 shootout with Anderson.

The Red Devils shut out the Indians over the final two quarters, and Richmond turned a 34-33 deficit into the program’s first victory under Holeva.

Justyn Curtis threw for 212 wins and three touchdowns, while Taylor Kidd paced the Richmond rushing attack with 151 yards and two scores.

Ben Parrish also had two touchdowns for the Devils, one on the ground, one in the air, and Jalen Bailey and Jacob Flood also caught scoring strikes from Curtis.

“If anything, it kind of motivated us to work a little bit harder this week and to continue to get better,” Holeva said. “It was a good win, and they recognize it was just one win and there are some things we need to do if we want to be competitive down the road and at sectional level.

“It picked us up, but we’re keeping it in perspective.”