RALEIGH — Athens Drive put Friday’s 35-12 win over Apex to bed and immediately turned its attention to Cary, this week’s opponent.

Athens coach Jeff Smouse pulled a green folder and an air horn out of his bag at the end of his post-game speech, prompting his players to start doing up-downs.

“I’m trying to instill some confidecne and we’re going to get up for Cary,” Smouse said. “Every time they see it, they’ve got to do 10 down-ups. Next week, they’re going to be so tired of doing down-ups and seeing the card.”

While the Jaguars can turn their attention to Cary this week, here’s how they beat Apex (2-3, 0-1) Friday to remain undefeated (5-0, 1-0).

Why Athens Drive won: Its quick start.

The Jaguars scored 21 points on their first three possessions and led 21-0 eight minutes into the first quarter.

Phillip Barren returned the opening kickoff 68 yards to the Apex 17-yard line. Quarterback Nick DeMuro threw the first of his five touchdown passes at the 10:21 mark of the first quarter, this one to Barren from 6 yards out.

On the Jaguars’ next possession, DeMuro hit Barren for a 41-yard TD with 9:44 on the clock.

Athens’ Miles Pritchard recovered an Apex fumble on the Cougars’ ensuing possession, which led to an 11-play, 85-yard scoring drive. DeMuro threw an 18-yard TD pass to T.J. Kornegay for a 21-0 lead with 4:05 to play in the first quarter.

Why Apex lost: It couldn’t answer Athens early.

On the Cougars’ first three possessions, they had two first downs, one turnover and went three and out twice.

“Other than that, we played them pretty even the rest of the game,” said Apex coach Bob Wolfe. “I was really proud of our players. They could’ve thrown the towel in, but they didn’t. They continued to play hard.”

With the offense struggling, Apex couldn’t figure out a way to slow down Athens in the first quarter.

The Cougars had success moving the ball on the ground — they rushed for 249 yards — but they had little success through the air. Houston Hawley completed 6 of 17 passes for 77 yards.

Key plays: Athens Drive was in control for the entire game, but just when Apex threatened to climb back into it, the Jaguars had an answer.

After the Cougars’ Sio Moore (17 carries, 94 yards) scored on a 4-yard run with 8:30 to play in the second quarter, Athens responded with a touchdown on the ensuing series.

On second and nine, DeMuro and Barren hooked up for the third time on a 38-yard TD pass.

Down 28-6 with about five minutes to play in the first half, Apex quarterback Houston Hawley lofted a 36-yard touchdown pass to receiver Brandon Carr. But the play was negated by a holding call, and Apex ended the possession punting the ball away.

“That one touchdown gets called back, that makes it 28-14,” Wolfe said. “At least we still have a good chance.” Early in the fourth quarter, Moore scored his second touchdown on a 3-yard run, cutting the Apex deficit to 28-12.

The Cougars backed Athens into third and 28 on the ensuing Jaguars’ drive but couldn’t close the deal.

DeMuro escaped the pocket and found Bobby Harward over the middle for a 30-yard touchdown pass that put the Jags up 35-12 with 9:19 to play.

“The score didn’t make it look like it was that close, but it was,” Smouse said. “They could have come back at any time.”

Weapons aplenty: Athens’ DeMuro completed 17 of 31 passes for 349 yards and five touchdowns.

Nine different receivers caught one of those 17 attempts.

Barren had five receptions for 99 yards and three touchdowns. Kornegay caught three passes for 47 yards and a touchdown. And Harward had three catches for 53 yards and a touchdown.

“That’s the way it is,” Smouse said. “[Kornegay] and [Barren] are the big headliners. Teams try to take them away, and we have to find a way to get other guys the ball.”

Tailback Denardo Melendez had four runs of 11 yards or more and finished with 65 yards on six carries. He also caught five passes for 95 yards.

Improved defense: In addition to the offense’s fireworks, Athens’ defense continues to improve. After allowing 78 points in their first two games, the Jaguars have allowed 38 in their last three.

“We thought our defense was going to be better this year,” Smouse said. “We have a different scheme and better athletes. We can’t move the ball against our defense. They always beat us [in practice].”

Next up: Athens Drive travels to Cary (3-2, 1-0) Friday.

Apex plays host to Middle Creek(1-4, 1-0). The Cougars will look to snap a three-game slide against the Mustangs, who were 51-0 winners over Green Hope last week.

“We’ve played three good football teams in a row,” said Wolfe, whose team has lost to Leesville Road, Millbrook and Athens after winning the season’s first two games. “It’s frustrating, and I know it is for our players. We’ve just got to keep our nose to the grindstone. We’ve lost to some good football teams, but we’ve got to get better.”