Defense does it: Grimsley keeps Rolesville at bay to earn NC 4A state football title

Two offensive juggernauts with elite passing games and solid, complementary running games collided in the North Carolina 4A state high school football championship in Chapel Hill, and the game was in large part decided by … defense?

Of course it was.

Rolesville, in its second state final, used a second-quarter touchdown 12 seconds before halftime to pull within seven points of Grimsley in Friday’s N.C. 4A state final at UNC’s Kenan Stadium, but the Rams were foiled in the second half of a 35-23 season-ending loss — Rolesville’s second to the Whirlies this fall.

Rolesville (14-2) missed two third-quarter touchdown opportunities, the first of which came after Marion Turner intercepted a pass by Faizon Brandon on the Whirlies’ opening possession. The Rams moved inside the Grimsley 5-yard line and had a touchdown negated by a face-mask penalty before returning the football to the Whirlies on downs at the 7:33 mark.

“Any time you get a momentum shift like that, it can definitely set you back a little bit,” Rolesville coach Ranier Rackley said. “I told my guys at halftime, ‘Don’t flinch.’”

Rolesville began its next possession at the Whirlies’ 40, with 5:48 left in the third quarter. The Rams converted two third downs to extend the drive, but could not convert a third before Riley Daniels booted a 23-yard field goal that brought the Rams within three at 21-17 with 2:17 remaining in the period.

Two trips inside the 10, only three points to show for it.

Those defensive stands from Grimsley — and one more grinding drive capped by a Brandon 1-yard TD plunge — allowed Grimsley to complete a 16-0 season, its second unbeaten season in four years, including a 10-0 spring 2021 campaign that concluded with a subdivided 4A state championship. The Whirlies fell short in the 2022 4A state final to New Bern, but that title was vacated.

Rolesville was in its second state final, including the spring 2021 4AA game in which the Rams were outscored by Vance (now Chambers) of Charlotte.

Putting on the finishing touches

After the pair of defensive stands in the third quarter, Brandon, a highly recruited quarterback who has verbally committed to the University of Tennessee, went to work.

He found Khyan Battle for a long gain out to Grimsley’s own 42, then hit Kaden Catoe in double coverage for a gain to the Rolesville 25. With Grimsley 2,000-yard rusher Mitchell Summers ruled out of the game in the third quarter, Brandon knew he had to get things done on the ground as well as the air to keep the defense honest.

So he did, running first to the Rams’ 9-yard line, then to the 3, and finally into the end zone on a third-down play to push Grimsley in front by two scores.

A third defensive stand from Grimsley, this on a last-chance drive for Rolesville, effectively put the game out of reach. Bryce Davis plowed into the backfield on a fourth-down play and sacked Rolesville QB Braden Atkinson to give the ball back to the Whirlies. A minute later, Brandon tossed his second touchdown pass of the night, this one to Hudson Cooper for 63 yards.

“They rallied behind their guy, and he got it done,” Rackley said of Brandon.

Brandon made news earlier this season for his family’s efforts in court to allow North Carolina high school athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness (NIL) rights.

Brandon was also crowned North Carolina’s Mr. Football this week by The Charlotte Observer and News & Observer, and Friday was named Championship MVP, finishing with 182 passing yards (9 of 13) and two touchdowns. Summers tallied 133 yards on 26 carries, including first-half touchdown runs of 2 and 44 yards before leaving the game.

“We suffered some injuries throughout the game,” Grimsley coach Darryl Brown said. “As a team, we gutted it out and found a way.”

Atkinson put Rolesville on the board one last time in the final seconds, finding Gavin Waddell for a 24-yard touchdown pass.

Atkinson completed 21 of 39 passes for 298 yards, but was sacked six times.

Grimsley put Rolesville in early hole

Brandon connected with Battle for a 20-yard strike about midway through the first quarter to put Grimsley on top by a touchdown, and a solid defensive sequence followed by a Battle punt return set up the Whirlies for a second quick score, this one a run from Summers, who plowed into the end zone from two yards out.

That’s how the first quarter ended, but with the Rams on the move. That Rolesville drive stalled, though, turning the ball back over to Grimsley. This time, however, the Rams made the stop, and let their quick-strike offense do some work. A long Amir Brown run set up a 43-yard catch-and-run from Atkinson to AJ Roberts as Rolesville cut the Whirlies’ lead in half.

After a pair of turnovers — Grimsley on downs and Rolesville when Ryan Debow intercepted an Atkinson pass — gave Brandon another opportunity. The Whirlies’ QB found DJ Howerton with a long pass to give his offense some breathing room, and then Summers scampered in from 44 yards to put Grimsley back in front by two scores at 21-7.

It looked like the Whirlies would go into the half ahead by at least two scores, but a huge defensive stand for Rolesville allowed Atkinson one more chance on offense — and the Rams delivered. Tight end Jack McHugh hauled in a 9-yard strike from Atkinson in the final minute of the first half, leaving the score 21-14 at the break.

Deputy Regional Sports Editor Justin Pelletier contributed to this story.

This story was originally published December 20, 2024 at 10:18 PM.