WILLIAMSTON — Sitting on the cusp of a top-10 ranking among North Carolina Class 2-A high schools, the Washington football team will face the Riverside Knights on the road Friday at 7:30 p.m.

According to an Associated Press state high school poll released on Tuesday, the Pam Pack received 31 votes, putting the team six points behind Reidsville (3-2) for a spot in the top-10.

Head coach Sport Sawyer’s team has impressed so far, its one lost coming to the defending 3-A state champion in Havelock in the season opener. Since then, Washington is a perfect 3-0 and averaging 35.7 points per game on offense.

Markel Spencer and the Pam Pack running game will face a defense prone to forcing turnovers on Friday, but also coming off a 29-0 loss to a pedestrian East Carteret team.

Riverside head coach Asim McGill has Washington roots and Sawyer expects the Knights to come out with a bit of a chip on their shoulder.

“We have to make sure we secure the ball because they’re going to be bringing a lot of blitzes,” Sawyer said. “On offense, they run various formations to catch you off guard and attack the edges. It’s going to be an interesting game.”

Coming off its best season in three years, Riverside (2-3) has been plagued by inconsistency on both sides of the ball in 2014. While the Knights boast one of the toughest out-of-conference schedules in the Two Rivers Conference, it took two games for the front seven to come together, as the defense averaged 38.5 points per game through the first two weeks.

However, a big win over a resurgent South Creek team under the new leadership of head coach Grantley Mizelle gave Riverside a much-needed boost in confidence. After holding the Cougars to eight points, the Knights defense forced a slew of turnovers against Southside in a 12-point win on Sept. 12.

Following a much-needed bye week, the Pam Pack is back at full strength and concentrated on ball security in practice this week to counter the Knights defense.

As for a potential top-10 ranking, Washington will take all the recognition it can get, but is focusing on the game at hand, Sawyer said.

“In a way, when you look at rankings, that stuff is good as far as people noticing what you’re doing,” he said. “So right now, we’re focusing on our team. I believe we’re playing around a seven out of 10. We want to focus on playing around a nine or a 10. If we’re able to do that, I think the other stuff will fall into place. “

Washington will have one more home game on Oct. 10 before beginning Eastern Plains Conference play.

Northside and Southside both have the Friday off this week. The Panthers will face their second-straight 2-A opponent in the North Pitt Panthers in Pinetown next week, while the Seahawks square off against South Creek in Robersonville.