Washington stormed back from a 26-0 deficit to nearly earn its first win of the season at Roanoke Rapids last week. The likes of Hykeem Ruffin and Suae Poe excelled as coach Sport Sawyer returned to a familiar wing-T offense.

The Pam Pack offense entered the season looking as if it was going to spread the ball and attack more in the air than in previous years. However, the loss of quarterback Tripp Barfield, among other things, forced Sawyer and the team to revert to a system they found success with in years past.

The ground and pound approach nearly earned them their first win of the season over a week ago. Ruffin and Poe rushed for 70 and 69 yards, respectively. While the boys are 0-4 and still searching for that first win, a breath of confidence has been breathed into the offense.

The near comeback at Roanoke Rapids was the first time quarterback Frederick Holscher ran the wing-T in a live varsity game. With that under his belt — and a few extra days to prepare, thanks to the storms that rolled through the area last week — Holscher and the Pam Pack offense should be the most fluid they’ve been thus far.

While the offense has spent the non-conference stretch so far learning on the fly, the defense came into this year’s campaign with experience and a bit more certainty.

A significant amount of that experience is in the secondary. Seniors Logan Little and Cooper Anderson have held down the backend of Washington’s defense, and junior Nazzir Hardy has emerged as the defensive playmaker that coaches hoped for.

The Pam Pack has been through the ringer in its first four games of the season. The team has been roughed up by powerhouses in Havelock, Tarboro and Conley. Viking quarterback Holton Ahlers was effective in moving the ball through the air against Washington’s defense.

Anderson, Little, Hardy and company will face something similar against Kinston. Senior signal caller Kam’ryn Webster has a pair of fellow seniors downfield in Jaquez Bizzell and Daenard Branch. In Kinston’s last outing, Webster found each receiver for a touchdown mere seconds apart as the first half came to a close. It turned a marginal 8-6 lead over Southern Wayne into a smothering 35-6 lead at halftime.

Washington’s defensive backs will be key to halting the big plays that can make this game lopsided quickly. The front seven has to do its part, too. Webster is a mobile quarterback, and Viking running back Jacel Jacobs is a threat on the ground.

Kinston, coming off a trip to last year’s state championship, has lost twice in its first five contests. However, the Vikings have won two in a row heading into Monday and seem to be getting back on track.

Washington has its work cut out for it in all facets of the game. Even so, the Pam Pack have shown that they’re slowly putting the pieces together.

As part of Military Appreciation Night at “Choppy” Wagner Stadium, all active and retired military with identification get into the game for free with a spouse.

PREDICTION: KINSTON 49, WASHINGTON 28