Marysville Pilchuck-Oak Harbor capsule

MARYSVILLE PILCHUCK vs. OAK HARBOR

Friday night, 7 p.m. at Wildcat Memorial Stadium in Oak Harbor

Records: Oak Harbor: 3-0 league, 6-1 overall; Marysville Pilchuck: 3-0 league, 6-1 overall

KEY PLAYERS

Marysville Pilchuck: Jake Luton, QB (48-for-83 for 864 yards, 9 passing touchdowns, 4 interceptions; 95 rushing yards, 8 rushing touchdowns); Austin Joyner, RB/DB (1,017 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns); Kacey Walker, RB/OLB (887 rushing yards, 6 rushing touchdowns); Jordan Hoorn, LB; Austin Gianetto, TE/DE.

Oak Harbor: Fred Webster, RB/FB/MLB (748 rushing yards, 8 rushing touchdowns); Ian Kolste, QB (53-for-98 for 974 yards, 12 passing touchdowns, 2 interceptions); JoJo Webster, WR/DB (28 catches for 538 yards, 7 receiving touchdowns).

OPPOSING COACH’S QUOTE

“Both are similar in that they each have big offensive and defensive alignment. If you’re going to try to stop either one of them you’re going to have to stop the run game. Offensively, they have balanced the attack. Mixed in the run and pass and screen game. If they take away one thing, they need to be able to go to another thing.” — Tom Tri, Lake Stevens, Vikings defeated both Marysville Pilchuck and Oak Harbor in the regular season.

KEY INJURIES

Marysville Pilchuck: None

Oak Harbor: None

How the Tomahawks will win: Austin Joyner and Kacey Walker do a lot of the heavy lifting — and running — on offense, but it could come down to how Jake Luton handles the pressure, the elements (rain and wind are forecasted) and the hostile crowd. If he’s successful, the Tomahawks will be as well.

How the Wildcats will win: Oak Harbor will win if its ground game can match — or come close to matching — Marysville Pilchuck’s. With the Tomahawks’ strong defensive line, Oak Harbor may have to try going to the air. If Ian Kolste finds some success, and the hometown crowd gets into it, Oak Harbor will come out on top.

The Pick: Marysville Pilchuck 35, Oak Harbor 31

David Krueger, Herald writer