Despite being just five miles apart, these two schools have never played since Cardinal Gibbons joined the N.C. High School Athletic Association in 2005. Cary's defense held Broughton to just 14 yards rushing and seven points last week. The Crusaders' offense racked up 274 yards and 40 points in its win against Clayton. Something will have to give.

Athens Drive (1-0) at Garner (1-0)

Athens Drive's defense scored one touchdown and held Sanderson to just 3.4 yards per carry in last week's 40-20 win. The Jaguars will need much more where that came from, as Garner racked up 447 yards rushing (11.2 per carry) in a 62-42 victory against Enloe that wasn't as close as the score may indicate (Garner led 42-7 at halftime).

Sanderson (0-1) at Panther Creek (0-1)

Panther Creek is still looking for their first points of the season after last week's 49-0 blowout win by Leesville Road. Sanderson has played the Catamounts in all of Panther Creek's previous four seasons, going 2-2. The Catamounts will like playing this one at home, where the team has not lost since Oct. 23, 2009 - a span of nine games.

Riverside (0-1) at Apex (0-0)

The season opener for Apex comes against a team that the Cougars have played thrilling games against in the past two seasons. In 2009, a last-second field goal gave Riverside a 9-8 victory. In 2010, Apex held on for a 35-32 win. The Cougars know the opening game is important for them. Apex has won six games in nine of the previous 11 seasons - each one opening with a win. The only two seasons Apex has not reached the six-win mark have come when the team did not win its season opener.

Leesville Road (1-0) at Green Hope (1-0)

It's rare you find a game where both teams are coming off shutout victories, but that's the case in this longtime nonconference series. The Pride leads the all-time series 6-4. Only two of those games were close. All others were decided by 18 points or more.

Fuquay-Varina (1-0) at Clayton (0-1)

Last year's 28-7 Fuquay victory in the Battle of Highway 42 was an oddity in this rivalry series. The three prior meetings - also Fuquay wins - were decided by 10 points or less. Clayton's wing-T offense didn't score in the first half last week, but made things close late with 26 second-half points. The last time the Comets defeated Fuquay was in the second round of the state playoffs in 2005.

Middle Creek (1-0) at Southern Durham (1-0)

These two sides have only met twice, with each team winning once in the past two seasons. The two quarterbacks couldn't have more contrasting styles. Middle Creek junior quarterback David Salmon completed passes to 10 different Mustangs players in last week's win over Northern Durham. Meanwhile, Southern's Dorian Belcher completed just three passes, but scampered for 143 rushing yards in a 35-28 win against Greensboro Dudley.

Wakefield (1-0) at Holly Springs (1-0)

Wakefield erupted for 27 first-quarter points in last week's 48-28 win against Riverside. The Golden Hawks will have to try and stop Connor Mitch, a junior quarterback who has now thrown 40 touchdowns in his last 14 games. Holly Springs faced run-oriented Heritage last week and held the Huskies to just 23 yards of offense.

Player of the Week

Will Nassif

QB, 5 feet 10 inches, 175 pounds, Senior

Nassif outgained and outscored Smithfield-Selma by himself last week, completing 12 of his 14 throws for 181 yards and two touchdowns, and running for one touchdown on 96 yards and 12 carries.

Quote of the Week

Jeff Smouse

Athens Drive head coach

On first-time starting quarterback Jason West, who accounted for three touchdowns in his team's win against Sanderson: "He took more snaps tonight than he has in his varsity career."