Four high school football teams that won a combined 52 games and two state championships in 2024 will headline the latest edition of the Carolina Panthers Keep Pounding High School Classic.
The prep high school football doubleheader, to be played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, will feature reigning 4A state champion Grimsley squaring off against 3A champ West Charlotte in one match-up, while Hough will entertain South Pointe (S.C.) in the other.
Both games will be played Friday, Aug. 22 at the home of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. Hough-South Pointe will start at 4 p.m., while Grimsley-West Charlotte is set to kickoff at 8 p.m.
General admission tickets are $8 and available now via Ticketmaster.com.
Belk is the presenting sponsor for the popular event, which debuted in 2024.
“Belk takes great pride in celebrating the communities we serve and the moments that bring us together,” Don Hendricks, CEO of Belk said in a release. “This incredible event put on by the Carolina Panthers highlights the talent, determination and spirit of young athletes across our region and we are honored to be a part of it.”
Week 1 at Bank of America Stadium! See you there #WhirlieNation! #BlueCollar25 pic.twitter.com/68QEkbUIZA
— Grimsley Football (@grimsleyfb) April 14, 2025
Grimsley, which features players like standout quarterback Faizon Brandon (Tennessee commit), finished 16-0 a year ago and beat Rolesville in the 4A title game in Chapel Hill. The Whirlies have been ranked No. 16 nationally by Sports Illustrated in its “Way-Too-Early” preseason high school poll. West Charlotte, meanwhile, is set to bring back more than 20 starters from a group that finished 13-2 and downed Fayetteville’s Seventy-First 14-7 in the 3A championship contest.
Hough High (12-2) rolled through the first three rounds of the 2024 playoffs a season ago. The Huskies lost to Grimsley 35-28 in the 4A quarterfinals after drubbing South Iredell 59-0, Independence 47-3 and Mallard Creek 34-0.
The lone South Carolina team in the Carolina Panthers Keep Pounding High School Classic, South Pointe posted an 11-3 record last season. The Stallions, from Rock Hill, have seven S.C. state titles to their credit and advanced to the semifinals in 2024 in the AAAA classification.
“The Carolina Panthers are proud to partner with Belk to kick off the high school football season with two exciting matchups that highlight the important role football plays in bringing communities together,” Kristi Coleman, CEO of Tepper Sports & Entertainment and President of the Carolina Panthers, said in a release. “This year’s Keep Pounding High School Classic will be a great showcase of school spirit and competitive play, featuring four talented programs from both North and South Carolina.”
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) reclassified all of its member schools in preparation for the 2025-26 school year. The state’s athletics governing body created eight classifications instead of the 1A-4A model that has been used for decades.
West Charlotte and Hough will both play in the 8A classification in separate 7A/8A split conferences in 2025. Grimsley will be a 7A school, competing in a 6A/7A league. Read more about NCHSAA realignment and all of the new conferences it created here.
NC Football News will track results from this year’s Carolina Panthers Keep Pounding Classic presented by Belk – as well as all scores from high school action across the state – once the season starts. Bookmark our NC Football News High School Football Scoreboard Hub and visit each week for schedules and results.
