BURLINGTON — In between the Burlington-Edison football team’s regular season and its trip to the state playoffs, the Tigers always get to host a member of the Cascade Conference in a district playoff game. The Tigers have proven rude hosts over the past five seasons.

Friday night was no exception, as Burlington-Edison destroyed South Whidbey 45-0 to earn a spot in the state playoffs.

“We came in ready to go,” Tigers nose tackle Jack Nevitt said. “We were well prepared for this one.”

In the past five years, the Tigers have outscored their opponents 192-17 in this contest.

Barring a Squalicum upset of Lynden today, the Tigers (8-2) will play Sequim in a first-round playoff game, a game that will likely be played Nov. 14 at North Kitsap High School.

The Tiger defense was spearheaded right at the point of attack. Nevitt and the interior portion of the Tiger line on several occasions reached South Whidbey quarterback Hunter Rawls as or even before he handed the ball off.

“He’s a great combination of strong and fast,” Tigers coach Herb Lehman said. “He’s been working on his pass rush, and tonight that worked out well. When they have to double and triple team him, it frees other guys up.”

South Whidbey lost five fumbles, including one on each of its first two drives.

“You can’t turn it over that many times and expect to do well,” South Whidbey co-coach Andy Davis said. “Their nose guard was really a force.”

When the Falcons were able to get the ball to running back Henry Mead, who was well over 1,000 yards on the season, the Tigers had him bottled up as well. Against the Tiger first-string defense, he had just 18 yards on 18 carries. He finished with 52 yards on 24 tries.

The Tiger defense made the offense’s job easy. Burlington-Edison had to drive just 26 yards for its first touchdown, 42 yards for another score, 39 on another score and 41 on another. Burlington-Edison started just two drives in its own territory.