Oak Harbor’s ninth-ranked Wildcats have been sharpening their claws all week preparing for tonight’s football playoff game against Mariner at Mount Vernon’s Bulldog Stadium.

Mariner, 8-2, finished in third place in the WesCo South Division and rolled over Kentridge 42-6 in the opening round of the playoffs on Nov. 3.

Both teams faced common opponents in Meadowdale and Snohomish during the regular season with Snohomish taking Mariner into overtime before losing 27-21. But Wildcats’ coach Dave Ward said those games don’t mean much.

“We try not to dwell on common opponents with the players,” he said. “Those games were a long time ago and teams change as the season progresses.”

Oak Harbor defeated Meadowdale 49-7 Sept. 15 and topped Snohomish 34-14 Sept. 22.

Mariner beat Meadowdale 34-21 Sept. 22 and the Snohomish game was played Sept. 29.

Ward said Mariner has a good offense and the Wildcats have been working hard this week in practice to try and slow them down.

“They run the ball well and have some quickness, and are also able to throw the ball” he said. “Their quarterback makes some plays and we can’t afford to let him run

around.”

Mariner reportedly also has some good linemen both on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.

“They have some good size on the line,” Ward said. “They don’t have a lot of real tall kids, but they have some bulk on them.”

Oak Harbor also brings a lot of talent into the game led by senior quarterback Marshall Lobbestael, who has passed for 1,856 yards and 26 touchdowns this season.

Coming off a four-touchdown game last week in Oak Harbor’s 55-7 victory over Kentwood, junior running back Chris Valencia upped his season TD total to 13. He leads the Wildcats in rushing with 768 yards.

Senior running back Tony Thulin also cracked the 200-yard rushing barrier last week and has accumulated 239 this season. Sophomore running back Bennett Richter has 202 rushing yards and junior Rodrick Rumble has gained 235 yards.

Rumble has also caught 29 passes this season for an additional 445 yards and leads the Wildcats in scoring with 90 points.

Valencia has scored 78 points this season and Thulin has 64.

Oak Harbor’s line is anchored by 310-pound senior tackle Will Hunter who last week returned an intercepted pass for a TD.

Other key players on the line include defensive ends, senior Matt Davison and junior Jake Rouser, senior center/defensive tackle Edmundo Corrales, senior linebacker Matt Johnston, and junior linemen Brandon Llewellan and Tyler Elliott.

Mariner is coming off a big win on the road last week against Kentridge.

“That was a huge win for them and a big confidence booster,” Ward said.

Kickoff is set for 8 p.m.