Mayaka accounted for 139 yards rushing to keep Panther Creek (6-2 overall, 5-1 conference) tied for first place in the Tri-Nine.

The Catamounts capitalized on good field position for much of the night, and survived a furious second half Yellow Jacket comeback.

“We tell the kids a win is a win,” said Panther Creek head coach Wayne Bragg. “We’re not pleased with all the mistakes we made in the second half. We need to correct those penalties.”

The Catamounts led 24-0 early in the third quarter, but then watched Lee score on drives of 80 and 77 yards to make things interesting in the final period.

“We were concerned with Lee’s balanced offense coming in to the game,” Bragg said. “They did a good job protecting and (Chase) Arrington made some good throws to get them back in it.”

Arrington fired touchdown passes of 25 and 16 yards for the Yellow Jackets (3-5, 1-4) to bring them back.

Panther Creek used an 11-play, 75-yard drive to open the scoring at the 4:47 mark of the first period. Mayaka ran up the middle for a four-yard score, and then added his second touchdown early in the second quarter on a seven-yard run to put the Catamounts ahead 14-0.

Panther Creek senior Garret Lang kicked a 46-yard field goal to increase the Catamount lead to 17-0 at halftime.

Lee, celebrating its homecoming, earned a 15-yard penalty for not returning to the field quickly enough before the start of the third quarter, and the Catamounts capitalized on the short kickoff, as Jalen McKoy returned it 50 yards to the Yellow Jacket 17-yard line.

Mayaka scored for the third time on a 10-yard run and it looked like the rout was on.

Catamount senior defensive end Kofi Sackey lived up to his last name, recording three sacks. Greg Garneau added an interception for the winners.

Panther Creek hosts Cary next week.