BOTHELL -- The starting fullback, who also plays linebacker, is done for the season. A starting defensive end is out. And the star quarterback is banged up.

So when top-ranked Bothell (11-0) hosts Oak Harbor (11-0) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Pop Keeney Stadium in a state quarterfinal game, the odds aren't stacked in the Cougars' favor.

More worrisome is the fact the No. 4 Wildcats, winners of 18 consecutive games, defeated Bothell 21-14 last year in the Class 4A state championship game.

But Bothell remains tough to beat for a variety of reasons.

The Cougars jump out to huge leads (outscoring their opponents 127-6 in the first quarter), don't commit turnovers and force tons of turnovers (plus-23 turnover margin), and don't allow teams to move the ball consistently (165 yards allowed per game).

And with an offense averaging 34.9 points, the defense can take all the risks it wants -- and does under defensive coordinator Bill Christensen.

His unit yields less than a touchdown per game (6.4 ppg) -- best in the state among 3A and 4A schools -- and has five shutouts.

"We just try to put them in successful situations," said Christensen, a two-time first-team NAIA Division II All-American while playing linebacker at Western Washington.

The Cougars, who use a 3-4 defensive scheme, returned three linebackers and half of their secondary this year. Seniors Cory Burk, Ben Moschel and Nate Prouix, along with junior Patrick Ottorbech, are returning starters who have more than carried the load.

"We have the same type of guys, but they just have different numbers and different names attached to them," said Christensen, who also handles the linebackers.

The undersized Burk (5 feet 8, 170 pounds) had a pair of fumble recoveries and a sack in Bothell's 31-17 first-round win over Central Kitsap last week.

"It's kids who are really small but really fast," Christensen said, "and kids who just understand where they need to be."

One of these was starting linebacker and fullback Trey Burwick, who broke his left leg in Bothell's 35-0 state-qualifying win over Gig Harbor.

Burwick, a 5-8, 200-pound junior, still leads the team in touchdowns with 11.

While Christensen lost a linebacker, defensive line coach Marty Hoyle lost end Mike Moran to a knee injury. But coach Tom Bainter is confident the defense won't fall too far.

"It's a combination of understanding the scheme, understanding our personnel and understanding what they (opponents) do well," Bainter said. "And that's what Bill and Marty do such a great job of."

EXTRA POINT: Senior quarterback Johnny Hekker will start for Bothell but isn't 100 percent because of a left knee injury suffered in the last game