When the state football playoffs begin for Oak Harbor High School at home at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, the Wildcats will attempt to do something no team other than Bellevue has accomplished the past two seasons — defeat Mount Si.

Mount Si, from Snoqualmie and the Kingco Conference, is 19-3 over the span, losing each year to nationally-ranked Bellevue in league play and to the Wolverines in last season’s state quarterfinals.

Mount Si was ranked second in the state in 2012 and is currently ranked fifth.

Bellevue, which won the past five state 3A titles and 10 of the last 12, is ranked No. 1 in Washington again this year and has a 49-game winning streak, best in state history. The Wolverines are ranked 11th nationally and were the country’s top-ranked team in some polls last season.

Mount Si, whose nickname, like Oak Harbor’s, is the Wildcats, would like another shot at Bellevue, but first it must get by Oak Harbor.

The petrol that makes Mount Si go is quarterback Nick Mitchell. Last spring, the 6-2, 175-pounds senior committed to Oregon State University, where he will join his brother Josh, an offensive lineman for the Beavers.

Mitchell was all-Kingco, first team in 2012 when he threw for more than 2,000 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Mount Si graduated a ton of talent last year, but Mitchell has kept the Wildcat machine running smoothly.

Through the first eight games this year, Mitchell led Kingco in passing, completing 99 of 164 passes, a shiny 60 percent, for 1,608 yards and 17 touchdowns with three interceptions.

He is a dual threat with “great speed,” according to Oak Harbor coach Jay Turner. Mitchell has run for more than 200 yards and seven touchdowns.

Several recruiting services list Mitchell as the top senior quarterback in Washington this season.

Former University of Washington and professional quarterback Hugh Millen says Mitchell’s arm is stronger than some NFL quarterbacks.

Trevor Daniels is Mitchell’s favorite target, catching 31 passes for 432 yards and six touchdowns. Beau Shain has 23 catches for 467 yards and four touchdowns.

Bailey Takacs leads the Mount Si rushers with 599 yards on 96 carries for six touchdowns.

Mount Si’s offense is fairly balanced, throwing for 218 yards per game and running for 189, an average of 407 yards per game.

Oak Harbor’s offense is run-heaving, rushing for 335 yards and passing for 61 yards per game, for a 396-yard per-game average.

Mount Si (8-1) ranks second to Bellevue in Kingco team defense, allowing only 228 yards per game and 15 touchdowns this season. Against teams other than Bellevue, it has surrendered only 87 points.

Oak Harbor (7-2) has outscored opponents 306-157 to Mount Si’s 311-139.