Opening the season against a league opponent is a difficult task for any team.

On Friday, Oak Harbor kicks off the 60th and possibly the last season at Memorial Stadium hosting Marysville Pilchuck. Wildcats’ head coach Dave Ward said the WESCO League game against the Tomahawks could prove to be a difficult one.

Oak Harbor enters the season as the No. 9-ranked class 4A team in the state in preseason polls and Ward said that isn’t always the best thing to have happen.

“You have to go out and earn it,” he said. “The guys are working hard in practice trying to get ready.”

Last year Marysville Pilchuck finished 1-8, while the Wildcats reached the state semifinals before losing to Skyline to end the season with a 10-2 record.

However, the Tomahawks’ losing record in 2005 is no indicator of how tough the team was.

“We beat them 28-7 in the final regular season game before the state playoffs last year,” Ward said. “It was 10-7 at half time and then we pulled away.”

Ward said Marysville Pilchuck is a huge school with a lot of kids to draw from.

“They usually have some size and some athletes with quickness,” he said. “They are a pretty physical team and they’ll hit you and present some problems. You have to be ready to play football, that’s all there is to it.” Ward said preparing to face any team in the first game of the season always presents a problem.

“All we know is what they had last year,” he said. “We haven’t seen how they are looking this year. Of course, they don’t know much more about us than that either. You go into this one somewhat blind, so you prepare your kids for everything you can think of that they might throw at you.”

Rumors have indicated the Tomahawks want to throw the football more this year and the Wildcats are working that possible factor into their overall game plan.

“They also have a back that has some speed and that’s something else we are going to have to deal with,” he said.

Oak Harbor puts a dominating team on the field led by senior linemen Will Hunter, Matt Johnson and Steve Schultz who are capable of playing on both sides of the ball.

At 6-5, 310 pounds, Hunter is an anchor on the line and earned first-team all league honors last year both on offense and defense.

On offense senior quarterback Marshall Lobbestael, who has been a starting player for three seasons, calls the plays. Last year, he passed for 1,188 yards and 11 touchdowns.

“We also have three good wide receivers in Roderick Rumble, Brendan Kays and Jeff Lamont who we will be counting on this season,” Ward said.

At running back junior Chris Valencia, who rushed for 597 yards and seven TDs in 2005, is a force to be reckoned with and Ward said seniors Tony Thulin and Josh Grinstead will also be carrying the ball a lot.

The Wildcats have two players currently out with minor injuries and illness, but they should both be ready to play Friday night.

Ticket prices for Friday’s home game are $5 adults and students without an ASB card. Elementary and middle school students not accompanied by an adult also pay $5. Senior citizens and elementary and middle school students with an adult get in for $2, and Oak Harbor students with an ASB card are admitted free.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

“We’ve had some great games with them in recent years and anything can happen,” Ward said. “Friday night should be another great game.”