After scoring only 14 points in two early-season losses, Apex has scored an average of 36.5 points in its last two games, including a 38-0 blanking of Eastern Wayne High on Friday night that improved the Cougars’ record to 3-2.

The offense got a spark two weeks ago when coach Bob Wolfe replaced starting quarterback Mike Billings with sophomore Houston Hawley.

“We just felt like we needed to try something a little bit different,” Wolfe said. “We just weren’t moving the ball quite as well and it wasn’t necessarily one or the other’s fault at all, but sometimes you just feel like you need to change something just to see if it’ll work. We did and it’s been pretty good so far.”

With the offense putting up its two highest scoring performances of the season. Apex appears to be in great standing heading into Tri-Eight Conference play.

“It’s been very good,” Hawley said. “Everybody’s been clicking on all cylinders for the past two games.”

Senior safety Rayshad Horton attributes the turnaround to the offense.

“[There was a] change of attitude,” he said. “The offense went out there in practice and started picking it up.”

Along with the added production from Hawley, the offense got a boost on Friday from tailback Kevin Fogg, who broke touchdown runs of 95 and 71 yards and finished the night with 166 yards.

The encouraging play on the offense has given Wolfe a better feeling about the Cougars’ chances in the conference.

“We’re probably in much better shape than we would’ve been after the second or third game,” he said. “We’ve got a very balanced league and I think anybody can beat anybody on any given night.”