Middle Creek enters this week's third-round game at Fayetteville's Jack Britt High with a chance to earn a spot in the 4AA east final. The winner will be on the road in the next round, either at Garner or Leesville Road.

Middle Creek (10-3) at Jack Britt (10-2)

Friday's game will be the second time Middle Creek has played in the third round of the playoffs, with the previous time coming in 2009.

The Mustangs are coming off arguably their best game of the season. Middle Creek broke open a tied game at halftime against Fuquay-Varina and went up by as many as three touchdowns in the second half, forcing six turnovers along the way.

That success on both sides of the ball will be needed this Friday as the Mustangs meet a Jack Britt team that just clinched its seventh 10-win season in the last eight years.

Jack Britt's 31-0 win against Cary was their fourth straight shutout. In their last five games, the Bucs have allowed just nine points.

Britt running back Lindon Watkins has 999 yards rushing this year and 10 touchdowns. Receiver Kenny Jenkins (958 yards, 12 touchdowns) is the favorite target of Bucs quarterback Mark McRae (58.4 percent completion percentage, 21 touchdowns, four interceptions).

Middle Creek's attack has been exceptionally balanced this year. The Mustangs have four receivers (Kevin Jones, Jon Moore, Quinton Ray, Curtis Burston) with 400 or more yards receiving, while Four running backs (Naylaan Lopez, Devone Johnson, Rashawn King, Corey Wright) and quarterback David Salmon (2,699 yards passing, 23 touchdowns) have combined for 29 touchdowns on the ground.

player of the week

Naylaan Lopez

Middle Creek RB, Junior

There were many heroes in Middle Creek's 34-20 defeat of Fuquay-Varina in last week's second round. Brian Brodney had two interceptions. Darius Wilkins had a few tackles for loss and an interception. Jon Moore had eight catches for 145 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback David Salmon completed 18 of his 23 throws for 215 yards and two touchdowns.

But the game tilted toward the Mustangs favor just seconds into the second half, when Fuquay chose not to do their standard pooch-kick kickoff and instead booted the ball to Lopez. His 66-yard return put the Mustangs deep inside Bengals territory and set up a touchdown two plays later. Lopez continued to gash the Fuquay defense, ending the night with two rushing touchdowns and 109 yards on 15 carries.

Coach speak

Ryan Habich

Fuquay-Varina head coach

For the second year in a row, the Bengals lost just two games to the same conference opponent. Both years ended in the second round of the 4AA playoffs to the team that handed them a conference loss in overtime.

"Hopefully I can get that monkey off my back where I can beat a team the second time around. It kind of feels like déjà vu all over again with Panther Creek last year and Middle Creek this year," Habich said. "But you've got to give Middle Creek (credit). They did a great job and they have a good football team, and I wish them the best of luck next week against Jack Britt."