The defending NCHSAA 4A state champions are back — and the Grimsley Whirlies’ 2025 football schedule is packed with marquee matchups, a new classification and another star-studded roster.
Coming off a perfect 16-0 season, Grimsley returns several top players and will begin making a run at another championship with a showdown against defending 3A champion West Charlotte at Bank of America Stadium in the Keep Pounding High School Classic. The event is hosted by the Carolina Panthers and will take place on Friday, August 22 in Charlotte.
The Whirlies had a hard time finding a 10th game this spring, even offering to pay in-state opponents for travel. With no takers from the Old North State, they scheduled a matchup against Varina High School from Henrico, Va., near Richmond. The Blue Devils finished as Virginia’s Class 4 state runner-up last season (12-2) and bring another test for Grimsley’s playoff-ready program.
Grimsley is led by head coach Darryl Brown and features one of the top junior quarterbacks in the country: Tennessee commit Faizon Brandon. Other key returners include:
- DJ Howerton (TE, 2026) – Offers from NC State, Florida State, Utah and more
- Kosci Barnes (CB, 2026) – Offers from South Carolina, Kentucky, Louisville, App State
- Nick Kashubara (OL/DL, 2026) – All-conference, all-state honorable mention with offers from ECU, Wake Forest, App State
Busy 3 weeks in Whirlie Country for our players and staff! #GDTBAW #BlueCollar25 #TDT#LeaveYourMark pic.twitter.com/LvqEpiN2qb — Grimsley Football (@grimsleyfb) May 23, 2025
This season, Grimsley moves up to Class 7A in the NCHSAA’s new eight-classification format and will compete in the Metro 6A/7A Conference alongside familiar Greensboro rivals Page, Dudley, and Ragsdale.
🗓️ Grimsley Whirlies 2025 Football Schedule:
| Date | Opponent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 8 | Mooresville (scrimmage) | |
| Aug. 15 | Reagan (scrimmage jamboree) | |
| Aug. 22 | vs. West Charlotte | Keep Pounding Classic, Bank of America Stadium |
| Aug. 29 | at West Forsyth | |
| Sept. 5 | EAST FORSYTH | |
| Sept. 19 | at Southwest Guilford* | Conference game |
| Sept. 26 | WESTERN GUILFORD* | Conference game |
| Oct. 3 | VARINA (VA) | Class 4 Virginia runner-up in 2024 |
| Oct. 10 | RAGSDALE* | Conference game |
| Oct. 17 | at Page* | Conference game |
| Oct. 24 | DUDLEY* | Conference game |
| Oct. 31 | at Ben L. Smith* | Conference game |
🏆 Grimsley 2024 Season Results (16-0, State Champions)
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 23 | Mount Tabor | W 34–12 |
| Aug. 30 | at Rolesville | W 35–20 |
| Sept. 6 | Reagan | W 42–7 |
| Sept. 20 | at Southeast Guilford* | W 49–7 |
| Sept. 26 | Northwest Guilford* | W 47–7 |
| Oct. 4 | at Western Guilford* | W 48–0 |
| Oct. 11 | at Ragsdale* | W 49–7 |
| Oct. 18 | Southwest Guilford* | W 71–0 |
| Oct. 25 | at Page* | W 54–7 |
| Nov. 1 | Northern Guilford* | W 42–14 |
| Nov. 15 | Western Guilford** | W 63–0 |
| Nov. 22 | Southeast Guilford** | W 58–21 |
| Nov. 29 | Charlotte Catholic** | W 42–14 |
| Dec. 6 | Hough** | W 35–28 |
| Dec. 13 | Weddington** | W 35–23 |
| Dec. 20 | Rolesville** (4A State Final) | W 35–23 |
| * = conference game | ||
| ** = playoff game |
