MANCHESTER -- It's been some time since Manchester Central was high school football's biggest, baddest bunch on the Division I block.

“I still don't think we are. I don't know how tough we are,” head coach Ryan Ray said earlier this week at Gill Stadium. “That's what Friday nights are for, to find out if we belong with the big boys.”

Ray — a former assistant to Jim Schubert, whose 2004 title team remains Central's last group to compete for a championship — can begin formulating his answer shortly. Absent from postseason play the past two seasons, Central faces defending champion and No. 1 Exeter Friday at Bill Ball Stadium in Exeter.

The Little Green (2-0 overall, 1-0 Div. I) are No. 2 in the Union Leader/WGIR/WMUR Power Poll, the program's highest ranking since a two-week stint at No. 1 late in the 2008 regular season.

“What have we done?” said Ray, downplaying Central's statewide status. “Last I checked, it's the second week of September. It's not the second week of November.”

Central-Exeter, which kicks off at 7 p.m., is a whopper, nonetheless.

The proof: Media access during practice was only granted to three seniors — players that Ray himself hand-picked.

Bulletin-board material for the Blue Hawks (2-0, 1-0)? Central captains Dan Pasqual and Troy Pelletier, and Andrew Slingsby provided none.

Unless, of course, comments intended for the trio's teammates count.

“Looking back at all the years we've played here, I think this (game) might be the biggest,” said Pasqual, a tight end and linebacker. “I know it's early in the season, but (a win) will fire everyone up.”

That isn't to suggest Central has lacked intensity — or confidence — thus far.

“Motivation and heart are what we have this year,” said Slingsby, a fullback and defensive lineman.

Standouts such as senior quarterback Riley Cote (seven touchdown passes), wideout Pelletier, Slingsby, and junior rising-star running backs David Weekly and Hector Velez are the faces of an athletic skill-position corps.

Yet success — against Exeter and the rest of Division I — hinges on contributors who don't make headlines.

“This year, in particular, our offensive and defensive lines have got to be the blood for our body,” Ray said. “Our body doesn't live, our body doesn't run, our body doesn't catch the ball unless the blood is pumping through the veins.”

Ray, however, won't identify by name the players who must do the dirty work against physical Exeter. Consider it another of the coach's subtle strategic moves designed to keep Central's focus on the field, rather than press clippings.

Ray's plan produced the desired effect last week. Concord's head coach confirmed it.

“As much as they moved us off the ball when they were on offense, they moved us off the ball when we were on offense. Their fronts gave us problems,” said Eric Brown, whose then-No. 10 Crimson Tide lost to the Little Green, 35-21.

Pelletier, also a defensive back, admits this season of extremely high expectations is off to a promising start. But he and the other varsity veterans have previously been in this position.

“Every year, we have a chance to be one of the top teams. It's (about) putting it together and we never really do,” he said. “This year, we've got to put it together.”

It starts Friday on the Seacoast.

“Can we compete with teams who have won state championships? Exeter has won state championships,” Ray said. “Are we for real or are we for show?”

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Marc Thaler may be reached at mthaler@unionleader.com.