There is only one Tri-Nine team that Panther Creek has never defeated - and it happens to be the other half of the yearly "Battle of the Creeks." Middle Creek, which knew it was going to have a tough opening stretch of games both in conference and non-conference, will have played its three closest Tri-Nine Conference competitors after this one. A Panther Creek loss would keep the Mustangs' dream of winning the top Tri-Nine playoff seed alive, while ending any realistic chance of the Catamounts doing the same.

All-time series: Middle Creek leads 4-0

Lee County at Cary

Cary is playing their second game in five games but should get the offense on track against a Lee (2-3, 1-2) defense that's given up 42 points apiece to its last two opponents.

Last 10 meetings: Cary leads 6-4

Fuquay-Varina at Green Hope

One of the questions entering the year about Fuquay (5-1, 3-1) was if the offensive line would gel by the time it got through a brutal opening four games to the conference season. They have, and now it's all downhill from here, starting with the 2-4 (0-3) Falcons.

All-time series: Fuquay-Varina leads 8-2

Apex at Athens Drive

Athens Drive (3-3, 2-1) won a close game last week, which is what haunted last year's group all season. Apex (1-3, 1-3) has made a swap at quarterback, relying more on the mobile Donte Smalls. Smalls may have excelled at the youth football program "punt, pass and kick" if he played it when he was younger. Smalls is also the team's punter and returns kicks.

Last 10 meetings: Apex leads 6-4

Word of God at Cary Christian

These two 8-man N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association teams met in last year's state championship (WOG won 67-28), so it's highly-anticipated. But use some precaution when getting hyped for this one. Cary Christian (4-1) lost to Halifax Academy 28-21 in the season opener. Word of God (5-0) just beat that team 74-6. Holy Rams running back Qwen Yarborough, who started his high school career at Enloe, has ran for 1,174 yards and 20 touchdowns in five games.

Player of the Week

Jason West

Athens Drive QB, Junior

The junior completed 22-of-43 passes for 288 yards and one score Friday to lead the Jaguars to a 31-28 win. West is keeping alive the tradition of successful quarterbacks at the Drive. He leads the Tri-Nine with 1,450 yards passing and 11 touchdowns to just five interceptions.

Coach speak

Bob Wolfe

Apex head coach

On taking advantage of the little-used fair catch kick rule in Friday's game with Green Hope: "We had one other chance to do it about eight or nine years ago, but it was a 60-yard kick and it was about five yards short."