CARY - Fuquay-Varina could do little wrong in a lopsided 51-19 Tri-Nine Conference win against host Green Hope 51-19 on Friday night.

Fuquay quarterback Evan McNeill threw for two touchdowns and 108 yards on 5-of-7 passing. He also ran for a score.

The Bengals gained 243 yards on the ground, led by Kyle Smith’s three runs for 96 yards.

Already without their top two quarterbacks, Green Hope starter Jacob Best came up limping with an apparent right leg injury on just the second play of the game. Wide receiver Dylan Hartigan took over under center and ran the ball himself on six of his first seven snaps.

Green Hope virtually abandoned the pass on the night, throwing just four times for 18 yards. Receiver Eddie Auslander and sophomore John Nassif also saw time at quarterback as Green Hope looked for an offensive spark.

The injury-depleted Green Hope offense was no match for the Fuquay-Varina defense. The Bengals earned a safety 5:48 into the game when Green Hope punter Anthony Lawson had to fall on a bad snap in the end zone.

Following the safety, Fuquay only needed two offensive snaps to score again. McNeill hit Hayden Read for a 40-yard completion to the Green Hope 6-yard line. McNeill then carried the ball into the end zone.

The Falcons had a brief glimmer of hope when McNeill’s option pitch was fumbled and recovered by Green Hope linebacker Brandon Glover in the end zone, cutting the score to 9-7.

Running back Ricky Fergerson helped give Fuquay some breathing room, carrying five times on a Bengals scoring drive, including a 1-yard touchdown plunge at the end of the first quarter. Ferguson then scored again on a 36-yard pass from McNeill. Ferguson added a third touchdown in the second half.