CARY - Panther Creek and Fuquay-Varina started off as if they were engaging in another shootout. Instead, a second-half shutout was the difference.

The Catamounts defeated their Tri-Nine Conference foe for the second time this year, holding Fuquay to zero second-half points to come from behind to win 35-28 in the second round of the 4-AA football playoffs.

SANFORD - Fuquay-Varina scored 21 unanswered points in the second half to overcome Lee County 31-10 and claim a share of the Tri-Nine 4A conference championship on Friday.

The Bengals (10-1 overall, 7-1 Tri-9) will be seeded behind Panther Creek, who tied F-V for the title but finished ahead on the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Catamounts one-point victory over the Bengals earlier this season.

FUQUAY-VARINA -- The Fuquay-Varina home crowd was growing nervous. A 23-point third-quarter lead over rival Middle Creek was down to five midway through the fourth — and the Mustangs were in the red zone.

But the Bengals forced their fourth turnover of the game at the most opportune time. Linebacker Justin Vaughan stepped in front of a Garrett Leatham throw to end the Mustangs' final trip inside the 20. Fuquay held on for the 26-21 win, giving them the possibility of sharing the Tri-Nine Conference title.

HOLLY SPRINGS – Cory Hunter and Ricky Fergerson combined for 271 rushing yards to help lead Fuquay-Varina past Holly Springs 38-7 in a Tri-Nine conference game on Friday.

Hunter carried the ball 23 times for 160 yards, while Fergerson (111 yards) averaged nearly 12 yards a carry. Both runners scored a touchdown and helped the Bengals control the game with 385 total rushing yards. Fuquay improved to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the conference.