RALEIGH — Standing in the end zone at Williams Stadium after their 42-28 win over Athens Drive Monday, members of the Middle Creek football team began chanting, “Middle Creek who? Middle Creek who?”

That question needs not be asked again, as the Mustangs demonstrated what happens when taken lightly.

“We felt like we matched up pretty well against them,” said Middle Creek coach Sean Crocker. “We just told the kids to get out there and see what happens. … We wanted to challenge them and get in their face and go man on man.”

The Mustangs (5-5, 5-1) were flawless offensively and defended Athens’ prolific offense better than anyone else has this season.

Behind running back Nate Harris and quarterback Brett Burnette, Middle Creek racked up 408 yards of offense. Burnette had five total touchdowns and 255 total yards. Harris rushed for 218 yards and two TDs, in addition to an 81-yard touchdown reception.

Burnette said the game plan called for more passes, but that was abandoned when it became clear early on that they could run effectively.

“The offensive line had a great night, and Nate had an excellent night,” said Burnette, who completed 5 of 10 passes for 190 yards.

Defensively, the Mustangs’ front four dominated the Athens offensive line and harassed quarterback Nick DeMuro from start to finish. Though DeMuro still passed for 333 yards and had three total TDs, he was intercepted twice, sacked four times and hurried at least a dozen more.

That constant pressure disrupted Athens’ rhythm, and the Jaguars (9-1, 5-1) never seemed comfortable offensively.

“We played our assignments and worked hard out there, and everything worked out,” said Middle Creek defensive end Akeem Ward. “There were times we broke down and had to pick ourselves back up. But we just played with heart, mind and soul.”

The Mustangs jumped out to a 21-0 lead, scoring on three of their first four possessions. Burnette scored on a 3-yard run midway through the first quarter, then tossed a 4-yard touchdown to Ward early in the second.

On the next series, Burnette threw a screen pass to Harris, who turned it into an 81-yard touchdown and a three-touchdown advantage.

“Ever since I started playing running back, they said if you see open field, go for it,” Harris said. “I saw open field and I was able to outrun them.”

Athens had a chance to get back into the game at the start of the second half. Middle Creek’s return man inexplicably backed away from the second-half opening kick after it sailed over his head and came to rest at the 10-yard line.

Athens Drive’s Jack Pierce jumped on the live ball, and Denardo Melendez (106 total yards on 16 touches) scored on a 10-yard run on the very next play. Middle Creek blocked the extra point and clung to a 21-13 lead.

That turn of events could have been crippling, but the Mustangs bounced right back. Burnette engineered a six-play, 61-yard drive that was capped by his 10-yard touchdown run to put Middle Creek up 28-13 with 9:55 to play in the third quarter. The Mustangs led by at least 14 the remainder of the game.

“It’s disappointing,” said Athens coach Jeff Smouse. “We win tonight and next week, and we’re conference champs all by ourselves. Now there’s a three-way tie. We’re not dead. It just hurts whenever you get beat late in the year.”

Middle Creek, Athens Drive and Fuquay-Varina each enter the season’s final week at 5-1 in the Tri-Eight. If all three win Friday (Middle Creek is at Panther Creek; Athens is at Green Hope and Fuquay is at Cary), they will share the conference championship.