Grimsley (N.C.) football, led by star QB Faizon Brandon, eyeing third state title in four years

The No. 1 high school football team in North Carolina last season resided in Greensboro. Grimsley High steamrolled competition in 2024 en route to a 16-0 season, capped off by its second state title in the last three years.

The Whirlies finished 2024 as the No. 28 team in the nation, according to the On3 Composite Rankings. Led by now-senior quarterback and five-star Tennessee commit Faizon Brandon, Grimsley will have eyes all over it every Friday this fall.

Brandon was named the Gatorade Football Player of the Year in North Carolina last season and will be the favorite to win the award again in 2025. He threw for 2,159 yards and 27 touchdowns to just one interception as a junior. Brandon also added 564 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.

Earlier this month, Brandon and his teammates found out who will await them on the gridiron this coming season. Grimsley announced its 2025 schedule and will play four teams who finished as top-30 teams in-state last season, as well as one of the top programs in the commonwealth of Virginia.

The season will begin on Aug. 22 at the home of the Carolina Panthers. Grimsley will take on West Charlotte in the 2025 Keep Pounding Classic at Bank of America Stadium. West Charlotte was the No. 6 team in North Carolina last season.

The Whirlies will stay on the road the following week and take on West Forsyth. They’ll then have their home-opener on Sept. 5 against East Forsyth.

A three-game home stand beginning at the end of September will be highlighted with a showdown against Varina (Va.) on Oct. 3. The Richmond program won 12 games a season ago and finished as the No. 5 team in Virginia.

Two of Grimsley’s final three regular season games will come on the road, concluding with a trip to Smith. The Whirlies are scheduled to play five home games and five road games this season.

Grimsley Football 2025 Schedule

Aug. 22: at West Charlotte (N.C.) (neutral)
Aug. 29: at West Forsyth (N.C.)
Sept. 5: vs. East Forsyth (N.C.)
Sept. 19: at Southwest Guilford (N.C.)
Sept. 26: vs. Western Guilford (N.C.)
Oct. 3: vs. Varina (Va.)
Oct. 10: vs. Ragsdale (N.C.)
Oct. 17: at Page (N.C.)
Oct. 24: vs. Dudley (N.C.)
Oct. 31: at Smith (N.C.)