That said, a loss would all but eliminate the Knights' shot at defending their district championship.
Mike Class is the catalyst for Pennridge's offense. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound junior halfback has rushed 172 times for an area-high 1,483 yards (8.6 yards per carry) and 17 touchdowns.
North Penn counters with senior tailback Kyle Mayfield, who has netted 675 yards and nine scores on 113 attempts.
In Week 10 last season, the visiting Knights blanked the Rams, 27-0, to clinch the conference title. Pennridge's last win in the head-to-head series came in 2004, by 35-27 in a then-National Conference duel.
Look for Dick Beck's squad, with a big effort from its leading run-stuffers, including tackle Derek Brandt and end George Shipp, to prevail in a taut contest. A 26-yard field goal by Brandon Mandes is the difference.
Pick: North Penn, 24-21.
Last week: 7-3. Overall: 58-16 (.783).
Other Friday games
Springfield, Delco (6-1, 6-0 Central) at No. 4 Ridley (7-0, 6-0), 7. Springfield quarterback Cameron Durham is expected back from a "lower-body" injury.
Pick: Ridley, 28-7.
No. 6 Coatesville (5-2, 2-1 Ches-Mont National) at West Chester Henderson (6-1, 2-1), 7. The Red Raiders are out to avenge last year's 21-13 loss to Henderson.
Pick: Coatesville, 30-14.
Roman Catholic (4-2, 1-1 Catholic AAAA) vs. No. 3 La Salle (6-1, 2-1), at Plymouth Whitemarsh, 7. The Explorers try to put a seven-turnover showing behind them.
Pick: La Salle, 35-14.
Strath Haven (4-3, 4-2 Central) at Haverford High (5-1, 4-1), 7. Eddie Durkin and Kevin Leyden have been quite the one-two punch for the Fords.
Pick: Haverford High, 23-14.
Saturday
Bonner-Prendergast (3-3, 1-0 Catholic AAA) at Cardinal O'Hara (4-3, 0-1), 2. On defense, the host Lions must keep all eyes on Friars QB Jim Haley.
Pick: O'Hara, 27-20.
Central (4-2, 2-2 Public Gold) at Germantown (2-5, 0-4), 2. The Lancers look to rebound from a 21-14 loss to Gold Division leader Frankford.
Pick: Central, 23-12.
Haverford School (4-3, 1-0 Inter-Ac) at Germantown Academy (3-2, 0-1), 2:30. The Patriots will no doubt use last year's 55-0 loss to Haverford as motivation.
Pick: Haverford School, 23-10.
No. 1 St. Joseph's Prep (6-0, 2-0 Catholic AAAA) vs. Father Judge (2-4, 0-2), at Northeast, 7. The slumping Crusaders, slowed by injuries, are in a tough spot here.
Pick: Prep, 38-7.
Contact Rick O'Brien at 610-313-8019, robrien@phillynews.com, or @ozoneinq on Twitter. Read his blog, "The O'Zone," at www.philly.com/ozone
