Grimsley High School capped a perfect season Friday night at Kenan Memorial Stadium, rallying from an early deficit to defeat Clayton 24–14 and claim the NCHSAA 7A football state championship.
The Whirlies (15–0) leaned on balance, resilience, and timely defense to turn a 7–0 first-quarter hole into their second consecutive state title, using a dominant middle stretch to pull away from a physical Clayton squad.
Grimsley outgained Clayton 314–305 and controlled the game with a 26:37 edge in time of possession.
Clayton struck first behind Aiden Smalls, who capped an eight-play drive with a 13-yard touchdown run midway through the opening quarter.
From there, Grimsley seized control.
Quarterback Faizon Brandon, later named Most Valuable Player, led two long scoring drives late in the second quarter. Brandon first connected with Hudson Cooper on a 7-yard touchdown pass following a 12-play, 81-yard march to tie the game. After forcing a Clayton punt, Brandon engineered a 10-play, 74-yard drive and finished it himself with a 3-yard touchdown run with 37 seconds remaining to give Grimsley a 14–7 halftime lead.
The defining play came early in the third quarter.
With Clayton threatening, Grimsley defensive back Makai Yon jumped a pass and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown, pushing the Whirlies’ lead to 21–7 and swinging momentum decisively.
Yon’s performance earned him West Defensive Player of the Game honors.
Grimsley extended the lead later in the quarter when kicker Chase Huellmantel drilled a 22-yard field goal, finishing an eight-play drive and making it 24–7.
Clayton (12–3) refused to go quietly. Smalls broke free for a 61-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 24–14 and finished with 167 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries.
Smalls was named East Offensive Player of the Game, while linebacker Keshawn Stencil earned East Defensive Player of the Game honors after leading Clayton with 10 tackles.
Brandon finished 8-for-18 passing for 126 yards and a touchdown, while adding 65 rushing yards and a score. Micah Williams, named West Offensive Player of the Game, led Grimsley on the ground with 101 yards on 21 carries.
Grimsley’s defense forced three turnovers and held Clayton to just one scoring drive over the final three quarters.
Clayton’s Carson Jones and Grimsley’s Neal Johnson were named the Sportsmanship Award winners.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Quarter
CLA — Aiden Smalls 13 run (Nate Lunger kick), 6:30
2nd Quarter
GRM — Hudson Cooper 7 pass from Faizon Brandon (Chase Huellmantel kick), 7:20
GRM — Brandon 3 run (Huellmantel kick), :37
3rd Quarter
GRM — Makai Yon 38 interception return (Huellmantel kick), 9:52
GRM — Huellmantel 22 field goal, 4:16
4th Quarter
CLA — Smalls 61 run (Lunger kick), 11:37
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING
Clayton:
Smalls 21–167, 2 TD; N. Smith 8–17; C. Jones 3–10; Hobbs 3–2
Grimsley:
Williams 21–101; Brandon 12–65, TD; Battle 2–11; Cooper 1–11
PASSING
Clayton:
Smalls 7–15–1, 91 yds; Jones 1–3–0, 18 yds
Grimsley:
Brandon 8–18–1, 126 yds, TD
RECEIVING
Clayton:
Campbell 4–66; Fiore 2–29; Dalton 1–14
Grimsley:
Catoe 2–42; Cooper 3–38, TD; Carter 1–25; Davis 1–11
DEFENSE (LEADERS)
Clayton:
Stencil 10 tackles; Bucklad 7; Stevenson 5 (INT)
Grimsley:
Searls 8 tackles; Barnes 7; Yon 5 (INT TD)
