CARY -- Middle Creek used a big second quarter Friday night on its home field to edge out Durham Hillside 24-19 and advance to the third round of the NCHSAA 4-A state playoffs.
After nearly 15 minutes of defensive football to open the game, Hillside quarterback Vad Lee hit Brandon China for a 47-yard touchdown as the buzzer sounded on the first quarter. The Hornets' lead would be short lived though.
Middle Creek quickly responded with a touchdown of its own. Junior quarterback Garrett Leatham connected with running back Stephen Sladek on a screen pass, which the senior took 14 yards to the end zone. After that, the Mustangs' offense developed a rhythm.
Leatham found Devonte Knox with 3:18 left in the second quarter for a 3-yard touchdown to push the Middle Creek lead to seven. Leatham accounted for his third score of the quarter in the waning seconds with a 9-yard touchdown run to give the Mustangs a 21-7 advantage, which they took into halftime.
Middle Creek seemed to pick up right where it left off in the first half, covering 57 yards on its first play of the third quarter. Leatham hooked up with Dexter Montague down the right sideline to the Hillside 9-yard line. The junior would finish 28-of-37 for 287 passing yards.
But the drive stalled, and the Mustangs settled for a 37-yard Matt Frongello field goal, which extended the lead to 17. After the defensive stand, however, Hillside's offense began to gain momentum.
The Hornets scored 12 unanswered points to pull within five at 24-19 with five minutes left in the game. Lee and Mike Brown connected for a 15-yard score, and China followed it up three minutes later with a 2-yard plunge into the end zone.
China was a bright spot for Hillside, rushing for 103 yards on 24 carries. The Hornets' offensive production came too little too late, though.
Middle Creek ran nearly three and a half minutes off the clock on its ensuing drive and pinned Hillside deep in its own territory. The Hornets took over on their own 15-yard line with 1:25 remaining and simply ran out of time.
Hillside's final drive and season ended at its own 37-yard line on a Lee incomplete pass on fourth down with 14 seconds left.
For the Mustangs, it's on the eastern quarterfinals and a date with Harnett Central, which dispatched Southeast Raleigh 27-21 in overtime Friday.
