CLAYTON - For the fourth time in their last five meetings, Fuquay-Varina and Clayton played down to the wire in the rivalry known as the "Battle of N.C. Highway 42."

This year the rivalry took a new twist: a missed extra point was the difference in a 21-20 overtime win by the visiting Bengals.

Fuquay (2-0) held a 14-7 lead in the fourth quarter when Clayton (0-2) drove 40 yards in 11 plays, the capper being a one-yard run by quarterback Daiquan Thomasson with 6:49 remaining.

The teams traded interceptions on the next two possessions – Anthony Gaskins for the Comets and Garrett Suggs for the Bengals. Fuquay drove to the CHS 3-yard line before Gaskins recovered a fumble near midfield. Kirk Stephenson’s interception off a Thomasson pass inside the Bengal 30 sent the contest into overtime.

Fuquay took the ball first and scored on a 13-yard pass from senior quarterback Evan McNeill to Ricky Fergerson on third down. Stephenson’s extra point gave the visitors a 21-14 lead.

Clayton needed four plays to reach the end zone on its possession, pulling within 21-20 on a 3-yard run by Tam Barbour, the son of Clayton offensive coordinator Anthony Barbour, a former Garner and N.C. State star.

But on the extra point, the snap was not true and the hold was bobbled. Sean Nanagas never got it over the defensive line of the Bengals and Fuquay survived.

It wasn't the first time on the night when Fuquay had capitalized on a miscue by Clayton's special teams.

Fuquay blocked a Clayton punt and Taylor Skeens recovered. Smith had a 16-yard run in the drive, and Carlton Bridges’ five-yard run gave the Bengals a 7-0 lead after Stephenson’s extra point.

Despite being outgained 184-57 in the first half, Clayton responded with the tying score on its first possession of the second half. Thomasson capped a six-play, 62-yard drive by throwing a 28-yard touchdown TD pass to Gary Richardson, and Nanagas booted the point-after attempt PAT with 9:35 left in the third quarter.

A six-yard run by Bridges with 4:11 remaining in the period gave the Bengals the lead back, 14-7.

Fuquay outgained Clayton 328-179, including 285-151 on the ground. Bridges led the way with 129 rushing yards on 22 carries, while Smith had 77 yards on five attempts, and Ricky Fergerson added 62 yards on 11 totes. Gareth Davies led the Comets with 47 yards on 11 carries.