The games have ended. The trophies handed out. The 2024 NCHSAA state high school football champions have been crowned.
This year’s championship weekend – which saw 1A Tarboro, 2A Monroe, 3A West Charlotte and 4A Grimsley capture titles – brought an end to an era for prep football in our state.
Since the 1970s, the N.C. High School Athletic Association has used four classifications to divide its member schools. Starting in 2025-26, the NCHSAA will move to an eight-classification model (1A-8A), meaning there will be eight state tournaments going forward, not just in football but in all sports.
The final weekend under the current 1A-4A system certainly provided plenty of highlights, notable performances and memories. Here’s a recap as we close the books on the 2024 high school football season:
NCHSAA Football State Championship Weekend | Tarboro, Monroe, West Charlotte, Grimsley Capture Titles
Final Scores | West Region wins 3 of 4 title games
- 1A Championship: Tarboro 45, Corvian Community School 24
- 2A Championship: Monroe 35, Northeastern 25
- 3A Championship: West Charlotte 14, Seventy-First 7
- 4A Championship: Grimsley 35, Rolesville 23
1A Recap: Tarboro overwhelms Corvian Community
Tarboro flexed its championship pedigree in a decisive 45-24 victory over Corvian Community School. Playing in their eighth consecutive title game, the Vikings dominated from the outset, building an 18-3 halftime lead and scoring three TDs over the final eight minutes. Despite a valiant effort by the Cardinals, in only the third year for their varsity football program, Tarboro’s relentless ground game sealed the win.
1A MVPs: Kamerin McDowell-Moore, Mason Satterfield power the Tarboro ‘T’
- Championship MVP: Kamerin McDowell-Moore (Tarboro) finished with 233 yards and four touchdowns on 20 attempts. He ran wild in the fourth quarter, finding the end zone on rushes of 60, 7 and 40 yards.
- Most Outstanding Offense: Mason Satterfield (Tarboro) added 146 yards and touchdowns on runs of 23 and 13 yards; Noah Best (Corvian Community) rushed for 60 yards and scored on a 1-yard run.
- Most Outstanding Defense: Cole Craddock (Tarboro) recorded 17 total tackles, including eight solo hits and two tackles-for-loss; AJ Jackson Jr. (Corvian Community) had a banner day on both sides of the ball, making 10 tackles defensively in addition to throwing for 213 yards and rushing for a 3-yard TD on offense.
- Sportsmanship: Chris Gunter (Tarboro), Jayden Summers (Corvian Community)
1A Notebook: Tarboro football 5-3 in last 8 title games
Tarboro’s eighth consecutive state championship appearance cemented their ongoing dynasty, with five titles in that stretch. Mount Airy had upended the Vikings in 2022 and 2023. Jeff Craddock has been the coach during this entire run, which matches (Charlotte) Independence’s state record of eight consecutive championship game appearances.
Tarboro (14-1) has been around as a school since the late 1880s and owns a 9-6 record all-time in NCHSAA state title games. The Vikings’ lone defeat of 2024 came to Havelock, the top seed in the 3A East … Corvian Community suffered its first loss of the season on Saturday. The Cardinals (15-1) knocked out two-time defending champ Mount Airy during its historic postseason run.
2A Recap: Monroe outscores Northeastern 21-7 in second half
In a game that featured six lead changes, Monroe had the last word to claim the school’s second-ever state football championship. Nymir Kendall scored on runs of 24 and 4 yards in the third quarter to put the Redhawks ahead to stay. A 2-yard Trevaris Jones-to-Zion Demps touchdown pass at the end of the third quarter pulled Northeastern to within 28-25. But Northeastern couldn’t crack the scoreboard again, turning the ball over on downs twice and allowing Monroe an insurance touchdown in the final period.
2A MVPs: Monroe Redhawks score by land, air
- Championship MVP: Zion Lindsey (Monroe) rushed for 116 yards and provided the game-clinching points with his 18-yard TD scamper with 2:18 left.
- Most Outstanding Offense: Jordan Young (Monroe) hauled in a 70-yard touchdown pass that proved pivotal in the first half and finished with 93 all-purpose yards; Tyell Saunders (Northeastern) made seven catches for 107 yards and one touchdown.
- Most Outstanding Defense: Jesus Jarquin-Ambrosio (Monroe) blocked a punt, broke up two passes and made six tackles; Khamani Bennett (Northeastern) picked off two passes in the first half and made two tackles.
- Sportsmanship: Jesus Jarquin-Ambrosio (Monroe); Dakari Adams (Northeastern)
2A Notebook: Monroe dishes first loss to Northeastern
A decade after winning its first-ever state championship (2015), Monroe added a second for the trophy case. The Redhawks are now 2-3 all-time in state title games…
Saturday’s clash featured two unbeaten teams. Monroe finishes 15-0, while Northeastern ends its stellar season 15-1. The Eagles are now 0-4 in NCHSAA state championship appearances.
Northeastern led 18-14 at the half. Trevaris Jones threw three touchdown passes, finding Saunders, Unique Blount and Zion Demps on scoring plays. Carren Armstrong rushed for 113 yards and a score for the Eagles.
Jeremiah Lindsey made 11 tackles for the champs, including two tackles-for-loss, a sack and a fumble recovery. Teammate Joey Shearin returned an interception 30 yards.
3A Recap: West Charlotte stands tall with stout defense
West Charlotte stalled Fayetteville Seventy-First’s usually potent rushing attack to claim the 3A NCHSAA state championship. The Lions scored on their opening possession, and the Falcons answered with a 5-yard TD run by Jayson Franklin with 33 seconds left in the half for a 7-7 game.
Much of the second half proved a stalemate before Donte Nicholson caught the game-winning 10-yard TD pass from Jamouri Nichols with 11:28 to play. Seventy-First advanced to the West Charlotte 24 in the final seconds but ran out of time to get another play off.
3A MVPs: West Charlotte quarterback nearly perfect in passing game
- Championship MVP: Jamouri Nichols (West Charlotte) completed 12-of-13 passes for 94 yards and a first-half touchdown to K.D. Cotton. His lone incompletion came on his final throw. Nichols added 26 rushing yards
- Most Outstanding Offense: In addition to his 6-yard TD catch, K.D. Cotton (West Charlotte) rushed for 39 yards; Despite playing through a knee injury, Deandre Nance (Seventy-First) completed 10 passes for 142 yards, including a 50-yard strike to Jytavius Whitted.
- Most Outstanding Defense: Noah Collins (West Charlotte) harassed the Falcons to the tune of four sacks and 10 total tackles; Nryus Moore (Seventy-First) recorded two sacks.
- Sportsmanship: Mike Kpuih (West Charlotte); Jytavius Whitted (Seventy-First)
3A Notebook: First state title for West Charlotte since 1995
West Charlotte has played in eight state title games, winning for the second time. The Lions earned their first championship in 1995.
Seventy-First suffered a title-game loss for the second year in a row (Hickory claimed the ‘23 trophy 33-26). The Falcons have lost in the playoffs to either the state champion or a state runner-up each of the last four years. They are 55-4 during that stretch.
West Charlotte’s defense stymied what had been a juggernaut Seventy-First rushing attack, holding the Falcons to 45 yards on the ground. Seventy-First had three (!) 1,000-yard backs this season.
The Lions returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the opening half, but the play was called back due to a penalty.
4A Recap: Grimsley achieves perfection with sweep of Rams
Grimsley beat Rolesville for the second time this season and finds itself standing on top of the 4A football world for the second time in three seasons. The Whirlies took a 14-0 lead in the opening quarter, and Rolesville never could catch all the way back up. The Rams got as close as 21-17 early in the third period, but one of the top junior prospects in the state, Grimsley quarterback Faizon Brandon, took charge from there and led the Whirlies to victory.,
4A MVPs: Grimsley triumphs in showcase of NC’s top stars
- Championship MVP: Faizon Brandon (Grimsley) showed why he was voted the North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year, completing 9-of-13 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns, including a 63-yarder to Hudson Cooper in the final quarter. Brandon, who has already committed to Tennessee, also rushed for a second-half score to keep Rolesville at bay.
- Most Outstanding Offense: Mitchell Summers (Grimsley) rushed for 126 yards and two touchdowns in a game that surely got the attention college scouts. Mercer signee Braden Atkinson (Rolesville) threw for 298 yards and three touchdowns in his high school finale.
- Most Outstanding Defense: Duke coach Manny Diaz had to like what he saw from UNC’s Kenan Stadium as January enrollee Bryce Davis (Grimsley) recorded three sacks and made an array of other plays. Xavier Lewis (Rolesville) paced the Rams with 12 tackles.
- Sportsmanship: Will Rainwater (Grimsley), Gavin Marks (Rolesville)
4A Notebook: Rolesville’s Gavin Marks inspires teammates with perseverance
Rolesville senior Gavin Marks, who was diagnosed with cancer at the end of the regular season, did not play Friday night but dressed out and led the Rams onto the field. Marks had started more than 40 games in a row and has signed with Mercer University…
Atkinson finished his senior season with 52 touchdown passes.
Rolesville’s only losses this season have come to Grimsley. The Rams were ranked No. 1 in the state by HighSchoolOT at the time of their regular season defeat (35-20) in late August. Rolesville has only been around since 2013 but already has played in two title games.
Grimsley’s defense recorded six sacks and held the Rams to 38 rushing yards.
The Whirlies won their second state championship. The other title came in the spring 2020 season over Cardinal Gibbons. Grimsley lost in the 2022 finale to New Bern, though that title by the Bears has since been vacated.
