APEX — The Apex High School cheerleaders held up the banner as they waited for their Cougar players to burst through it before their big Tri-Eight game against archrival Cary on Friday night.

The banner proudly proclaimed, “Impin’ ain’t easy, but beating you [Cary] is.”

The authors of that sign might have wanted to change those words late in the fourth quarter with the score tied at 21-21 and Apex facing a third and 10 from its own 35-yard line with just two minutes remaining.

The Imps had limited the Cougars to 60 total yards and four first downs in the second half, and they erased a 14-point deficit to tie the score.

Apex was hoping to complete a short pass in the flat on third down, and maybe pick up the first down. Instead, Cougar junior quarterback Houston Hawley spotted wide receiver Rob Fronk open down the field on a post pattern. Hawley let fly a beautiful pass, and 65 yards later Fronk was in the end zone with the go-ahead points.

Stephen Weiss added the extra point and then boomed the ensuing kickoff out of the end zone.

Cary, who had battled back in the second half, once again looked poised to tie the score, as senior quarterback Kendell Smith led the team into Apex territory with two consecutive passes. Following an incompletion, Smith’s next pass was tipped downfield and then fell into the arms of Apex defensive back Joe Watkins, securing the Cougars’ 28-21 triumph over the Imps and allowing those who made the banner and all of the Cougar fans to at least breathe a sigh of relief.

“Cary’s defense shut us down in the second half, but I’m just really proud of our players for hanging in there,” said Apex head coach Bob Wolfe. “That was a great read by Houston and then a great catch by Rob. It’s a big rivalry game, and the kids came out with a lot of emotion.”

The Cougars (5-4, 3-2) have won three consecutive conference games after dropping their first two against Athens Drive and Middle Creek.

The loss dropped the Imps (4-5, 2-3) below .500.

“The kids played extremely hard, but it’s a game of big plays,” Cary coach Ben Kolstad said. “I really thought we were going to score at the end. We missed a lot of opportunities on both sides of the ball tonight. Our goal is still to get better and to make the playoffs.”

Apex made the big plays all night, including two in the first half as they took a 21-7 lead into intermission. On the game’s third play from scrimmage, Kevin Fogg turned a short pass into a 55-yard touchdown, outracing several Imp defenders to the goal line to give Apex a 7-0 lead.

Cary answered with a seven-play drive culminating in a Smith 13-yard touchdown run.

After Apex scored on another Hawley pass to go ahead 14-7, the turnovers began.

First, the Cougars recovered a Cary fumble inside Apex territory.

The Imps then thwarted a 12-play Apex drive as Morgan Harris intercepted Hawley at the goal line. A few plays later the Cougars returned the favor as Richie Kazazian picked off an attempted shovel pass and returned the ball 31 yards for another Cougar touchdown.

The Apex offensive line did a solid job all game of protecting Hawley, who finished with 225 passing yards. Smith played well for the Imps, completing 16-of-21 passes for 187 yards. Cameron Castor was Smith’s favorite target, making eight receptions for 100 yards.

Cary dominated the second half, outgaining the Cougars 260-125 and controlling the time of possession. Denny Feracho took control with 108 of his 145 rushing yards after halftime, while teammate Andrew Hill tied the score at 21-21 late in the third quarter on a 68-yard scamper and finished with 96 yards.

Apex travels to Fuquay-Varina this Friday, while Cary will welcome Panther Creek to Cooper Field.