Redmond defensive lineman Sumner Saulsbury is brief when describing the key to defeating Marist, the Panthers’ opponent in tonight’s Class 5A state semifinal game in Salem.

“Stop the pass game,” Saulsbury says. “Getting pressure on the quarterback is the main thing.”

Redmond (11-0) puts its perfect season on the line tonight at Willamette University’s McCulloch Stadium against the Spartans, a team that has won four state titles since 2003. While the Panthers are making just their second state semifinal appearance in school history, Marist is in the state semifinal round for the fourth consecutive year.

The Spartans of Eugene, winners of the Midwestern League, are led by 6-foot-5-inch quarterback Kamerun Smith, who has completed 141 of his 229 pass attempts this season (62 percent) for 2,285 yards and 32 touchdowns against just three interceptions.

With the senior Smith, a two-year starter, running their offense, the Spartans are averaging 200 yards per game through the air and 188 yards per contest on the ground. “My guess is they’ll probably throw the football,” says Redmond coach Nathan Stanley. “That quarterback has a lot of leeway at the line of scrimmage, checking into other plays. … Trying to confuse him is as important as anything.”

In Marist’s lone loss this season, a 38-20 defeat at the hands of undefeated Sherwood, Smith completed 16 of 31 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns, but was intercepted once and sacked for minus-43 yards rushing.

“We’re pretty good up front,” says Saulsbury, whose team is expected to use a three-man defensive line against the Spartans. “We’ve got to make sure (the rest of the defense) can stay back and prevent whatever they can. … The last three quarterbacks we’ve faced have been pretty athletic, not short squatty guys. We’ve definitely got to keep (Smith) in the pocket and get pressure on him.”

While Smith has spread the ball around this season — four players for Marist have at least 20 catches and 200 yards receiving — the Spartans will be without one of their top playmakers this evening. The Oregonian newspaper reported on Wednesday that Austin Baird, who has signed to play at Portland State University, will miss the rest of the state playoffs with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Baird, who played both receiver and running back for Marist, rushed for 927 yards and 10 touchdowns this season in addition to catching 36 passes for 513 yards and seven touchdowns.

The Panthers roll into the semifinals having played one of their best defensive games of the season last Friday, limiting Crescent Valley to just one touchdown last week and 206 total yards of offense in their 14-6 quarterfinal victory over the Raiders. Offensively, Stanley says to look for Redmond to do what it does best — run the football and control the line of scrimmage — as the Panthers try to set the tempo of the game early.

“Once we establish that, all the other bells and whistles we like to throw in there come off good, old-fashioned, hard-nosed football,” Stanley says. “People look at (Marist) as on offensive juggernaut. … But his (Spartan coach Frank Geske) teams play good defense.”

Redmond and Marist play in the second of two 5A semifinal games scheduled for today at McCulloch Stadium. Silverton (11-0) and Sherwood (11-0) kick off at noon. The winner of today’s two 5A semifinal matchups will meet Saturday, Dec. 1, at Hillsboro Stadium for the 5A state championship.

Class 5A football semifinal round

Who: Redmond (11-0) vs. Marist (10-1)

Where: Willamette University, Salem

When: Today, 5 p.m.

Admission: $6 for adults, $4 for students

Radio: KICE-AM 940, 4:30 p.m.

Live radio stream: www.jayreesesports.com

Notes: The Panthers, who have tied a school record with their 11 wins, are looking for their first state final appearance in school history. … The Spartans lost in the 5A semifinal round last season to Mountain View, 31-14. Marist has won five football state titles, the most recent being a Class 4A state championship in 2009.