WINSTON-SALEM — The wait is over. The Washington Pam Pack will lay it all on the line at BB&T Field tomorrow in hopes of lifting the state championship trophy for the first time in the program’s 108-year history.

Head coach Sport Sawyer and the Pam Pack will square off against East Lincoln, an undefeated team from the Southern District 7 Athletic Conference that won the 2-A state championship in 2012.

It’s been 58 years since the Pam Pack has reached the title game, making this team and this game even more historically significant.

“It’s a football game and I know that probably sounds a bit cliché, but we can’t get caught up in the cameras and the setting,” Sawyer said. “We have to go out there and do what we’ve been doing all year, playing one play at a time and concentrating on assignments. That’s what got us here.”

Unlike their opponent, Washington’s season began with a 37-6 beat down by Havelock, a 3-A school that also finds itself in the state championship game. But that game wasn’t scheduled by accident. After losing in the eastern regional championship a year earlier, the opening loss humbled a team with high preseason expectations, while highlighting areas on both sides of the ball that needed work.

And since their opener, Washington has won 14-straight games. It’s a schedule that’s included a nail-biting win over D.H. Conley, a last-minute, game-winning, 89-yard touchdown run over Farmville Central, five shutouts and a 41-17 win over Northeastern in the regional championship.

Tomorrow’s matchup fittingly pits Class 2-A’s No. 2 defense against the top offense. The Mustangs, led by junior quarterback Chazz Surratt, are averaging 44 points per game and have leaned heavily on their offense to outscore opponents this season. Conversely, Washington’s defense is allowing just 7.5 points per game and has notched two shutouts in the playoffs (Kinston, Roanoke Rapids). Powered by an athletic, agile core of linebackers, defensive coordinator Jon Blank has crafted the area’s best front seven, even after losing nearly 600 pounds on the line to graduation.

“We make all of our guys dependable and accountable and we preach it every day,” Blank said. “Those guys feed off of each other like they’re a family. We believe in the idea that speed kills. We work year round on our speed development, not just our linear speed, but our agility as well. To compete with teams out this way like Havelock, we need to be great on defense. We worked to get strong, big and fast and this group has really bought into what we’ve done.”

Outside linebackers Jamond Ebron, E.J. Peartree and Rayekwon Satterwaithe have demonstrated the ability to rush the passer, cut off option runs and drop back into coverage when needed. The trio has combined for 235 total tackles, 13.5 sacks and seven interceptions.

Blanks’ arsenal of inside linebackers has been equally impressive. Junior Lexroy Brown leads the team in tackles and has notched 7.5 sacks, while Brandon Jackson and Jeremiah Windley have combined for 12 sacks.

Washington has never seen a quarterback with the skillset of Surratt and East Lincoln has yet to matchup against a front seven quite like Washington’s. Surratt has thrown for 49 touchdowns and leads Class 2-A with 3820 passing yards and also leads his team in rushing with 1024 yards. The East Lincoln field general’s favorite targets are his brother, Sage, who has recorded 1056 receiving yards and Damarius Valentine, a senior who leads the team with 1308 yards.

“We know they base a lot of their passing game on the curl route,” Blank said. “We’re going to try to be disciplined with what they’re running there. We also know that if we just drop everybody, they’re going go get into a screen game with us, so we have to be pretty smart about the way we adjust our coverages. We want to make sure we play good, sound football and play smart in the secondary — trust out eyes and trust our feet. When we start thinking too much, that’s when we start getting ourselves into trouble.”

Tasked with guarding Valentine will likely be senior cornerback Diavontrei Moore, who has picked off four passes this season. Junior safety Hassan Credle will be in charge of causing chaos the secondary by disrupting passes.

Defense aside, all eyes will be on senior running back Markel Spencer, the Pack Pack’s uncontested leader on offense, who has recorded 2041 yards rushing and 27 touchdowns. Spencer was limited in two playoff games due to injury, but is 100 percent for tomrorow’s game. On top of his stellar back, Sawyer plans on utilizing every weapon on his roster against a defense that’s allowed close to 19 points per game this season.

“Patrick has been doing great throwing the ball. He made some key throws last week … very key throws,” Sawyer said. “The receivers are getting better, but out thing is our running backs and the O-line. We have several capable backs, not just one, even though Markel is the marquee one. Our O-line, I don’t give them much credit, but they are solid making holes up front.”

The Pam Pack has already reserved its place in history along the “Long Blue Line.” With its final goal in sight, Washington will look to become the best to ever wear the blue and white tomorrow in Winston-Salem.