Both teams entered the game at 3-1 on a wet, sloppy evening.
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Garner was looking for some payback after last year's 49-0 loss to the Comets but Clayton started off quickly and never looked back in a 29-2 victory.
The game was marred by a serious injury late in the fourth quarter that led to the game being called with 3:17 to play.
Garner defensive tackle Breon Thompson went down with head and neck pain. An ambulance was called and Thompson left Trojan Stadium on a stretcher.
The good news -- a Garner official told ABC11 that Thompson was alert and moving his extremities.
The Comets struck first. On just the second play of the game, Clayton quarterback Johnathan Montague broke free for the first score of the game.
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In the second quarter, Clayton running back Ny'Quavious Armston took it 47 yards to the end zone to give the Comets a 14-0 lead, and they never trailed in improving to 4-1.
Because of the inclement weather from the approach of Tropical Storm Ophelia, kickoff time was moved to 6 p.m.
Soggy conditions as fans watch Apex slip past Cary
It wasn't the only game to be time-shifted because of the expected bad weather.
Cary High School's home matchup against Apex High was also moved up to a 6 p.m. kickoff.
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Boosters and staffers set up tents as part of extra measures for the rain.
Wake County Schools said that typically if severe weather happens during the action, the game is delayed until the threat passes.
"It's a collective decision," said Ryan Rodgers, Cary High's athletic director. "Ultimately, the officials are responsible for the contest itself, but both teams, both coaches both ADs, and the officials as well as the athletic trainers will get on board, and we'll make a decision that you know, as long as the safety is OK for the students participating in the game, as long as you know where we're all good to go, we'll finish it out."
The rain didn't seem to bother most.
"The whole part of the game is playing in the rain. It's a whole different aspect," said John Higdon, whose son plays for Cary.
Chip Pope was another parent who watched the game and got drenched.
"Our daughter is a cheerleader over there and they are out here in the rain and we thought we could come out for a little while and try it too and see how the rain holds up," said Pope.
Apex knocked off Cary in a tight one, 10-7.
ABC11's Jamiese Price contributed.