RALEIGH -- Athens Drive knew it had to win Friday night against Green Hope to even have a sniff at the state playoffs. The Jaguars also knew they might need some help from their rivals in the topsy-turvy Tri Eight.

Step one, the Jags took care of, trouncing the Falcons 41-3 at home. Step two remains to be seen. With Middle Creek’s win over Panther Creek and Cary’s loss to Fuquay-Varina, the Jags, Mustangs and Imps are in a three-way tie for the final playoff spot.

The winner will be determined by a random drawing.

That said, all Athens could control Friday night was how its own game shaped out. Jaguar coach Jeff Smouse was certainly pleased with how his team took care of business to give itself a chance at the playoffs.

“We’ve won four out of last six games. I think we’ve really responded to injuries.That’s our third quarterback to win a game this year,” Smouse said. “They finished the season well and that’s a great thing. They took care of business.”

The Jags took the lead on their opening possession, driving 66 yards in under two minutes to go up 7-0 when senior running back Darius Williams rumbled 28 yards for a score, the first of two on the night. “When he turns it on, he’s pretty quick. He’s one of the quickest guys around,” Smouse said of Williams. “This is by far his best game.”

The Falcons would fight back with a field-goal drive that lasted almost 8 minutes to cut Athens’ lead to 7-3 with 56 seconds left in the first quarter, but it was the last score Green Hope saw on the night.

The first play from scrimmage after the Falcon field goal, Williams busted out an 89-yard touchdown run that seemingly broke Green Hope’s back as Athens went up 14-3 in a heartbeat.

“Usually I get a good chunk of yards on that play, I didn’t expect to break 80 on that,” Williams said. “Good blocking by my receivers, I commend them on that.”

Athens would pour it on from there, as quarterback Kent Patton found receiver Louis Wilder for a 7-yard touchdown route to close the first half. Then, Jaguar wide receiver Phillip Barren took the second half’s opening kick to the house as Athens stretched its lead to 27-3 just 13 seconds into the third quarter.

Four minutes later, Patton and Barren connected on a 48-yard touchdown pass as Athens continued to roll. Bryan Houston’s 1-yard score in the fourth made it the final 41-3.

Now the Jags must wait and see.

“I don’t want my season to end, so hopefully, we’ll win,” Williams said.