APEX - Three forced fourth-quarter turnovers in the red zone kept Middle Creek atop the Tri-Nine Conference in a Monday night test against visiting Cary.

The Mustangs (4-2, 3-0 Tri-Nine) hung on for a 31-28 win thanks in large part to an a interception by Brian Broadney off a wide receiver drop, a forced fumble recovered by Daquan Stuart and another interception by linebacker Cameron White with just 10 seconds left in the game.

Those three turnovers kept Cary (4-2, 2-2) off the board in the final period in what had been a back-and-forth battle for the top spot in the conference. A win by the Imps would've created a five-way tie for first.

The game -- which was pushed back from Friday in lieu of the wet conditions caused by afternoon rainfall -- got off to a quick start when Middle Creek quarterback David Salmon hit wideout Kevin Jones on a quick slant on the game's first play from scrimmage. Jones did the rest, going 68 yards for the touchdown just 19 seconds into the contest.

Cary responded later in the first quarter, as quarterback Connor Chase hit DeAndre Henry on a screen pass, which Henry took 31 yards to paydirt to even the score 7-7.

After a 3-yard punt by the Mustangs kicker Chris Hui -- starting punter Matt Millington was playing a varsity soccer match and joined the team after halftime -- gave Cary the ball at the MC 35-yard line, Cary marched the ball down the short field before taking a 14-7 lead on a 1-yard sneak by Chase with 11:16 left in the second quarter.

Hui later connected on a 24-yard field goal to trim Cary's lead to 14-10.

After scoring on the first play of the first half, Middle Creek did the same with the last play, as Salmon found Curtis Burston for an 18-yard touchdown with just 2.2 seconds left on the clock to take a 17-14 lead going into the break.

Chase and the Imps took their second lead of the night as he found fullback R.J. Banks in the flats for an 8-yard touchdown pass with 3:09 left in the third quarter to take a 21-17 lead.

But Salmon found Burston again, this time from nine yards out on a tunnel screen, to push the game back in Middle Creek's favor at 24-21.

The ensuing kickoff was returned 99 yards by Cary junior defensive back Caleb Glass, and the Imps forced the game's sixth lead change of the night with just 1:03 left in the third quarter.

Following Broadney's pick near the start of the fourth quarter, Middle Creek went on a 90-yard drive that ended with a 2-yard score from Naylaan Lopez to provide what later stood as the game-winner.

Cary threatened twice more, but the Mustangs defense stood tall when it had to to preserve the win.

The Mustangs and Imps each have a quick turnaround, with Middle Creek playing at Panther Creek (4-2, 3-1) Friday and Cary hosting Lee County (2-3, 1-2).