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CHAPEL HILL – The Grimsley Whirlies completed a perfect season and claimed their second North Carolina High School Athletic Association Football State Championship with a 35-23 win against the Rolesville Rams on Friday night at Kenan Stadium.
The Whirlies struck first as Faizon Brandon connected with Khyan Battle for a 20-yard touchdown pass with four minutes left in the first quarter. Running back Mitchell Summer added a two-yard touchdown run in the final minute of the quarter to take a 14-0 lead into the second.
The Rams found the scoreboard in the second quarter as A.J. Roberts scored on a 43-yard pass from Braden Atkinson. Summer responded with a 44-yard touchdown run to push the lead back to 21-7. Summer was named the West Most Offensive Outstanding Player as he finished the game with 133 yards on 26 carries.
Rolesville took possession with 48 seconds left in the first half and marched down the field to score on a nine-yard touchdown pass from Atkinson to Jack McHugh, making the score 21-14 at the break. Rolesville kicker Riley Daniels added a 23-yard field goal in the third to pull within four points but the Whirlies put things away in the fourth.
Brandon added 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter and the Whirlies shut down the Rams on the ensuing drive, capped by a huge third down sack by Jaiden Wardlaw. Three plays later the Whirlies were in the end zone again thanks to a 63-yard pass to Hudson Cooper. Faizon Brandon was named the Carolina Panthers Most Valuable Player of the game as he finished the night 9-of-13 passing for 182 yards and two scores.
The Rams scored a touchdown as time expired as Atkinson found Gavin Waddell in the front corner of the end zone.
For Rolesville, Atkinson was named the Most Outstanding Offensive Player as he went 21-for-39 for 298 yards and three touchdowns. The Most Outstanding Defensive Players were Rolesville’s Xavier Lewis, who tallied a game-high 12 tackles, and Grimsley’s Bryce Davis, who had three sacks.
The NCHSAA is committed to recognizing outstanding sportsmanship in each of our State Championship events. The Association has partnered with the North Carolina Farm Bureau to award a pair of Sportsmanship Awards at each championship event, recognizing players who have demonstrated the ideals of outstanding character and sportsmanship throughout the 2024 season. The winners of the 4A Football NC Farm Bureau Sportsmanship Awards were Gavin Marks from Rolesville High School and Will Rainwater from Grimsley High School.
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