FINAL: Grimsley [NC] survives West Charlotte [NC] in overtime, 28-27

Kendall Webb

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FINAL: Grimsley [NC] survives West Charlotte [NC] in overtime, 28-27 image

The Grimsley [NC] Whirlies paid a visit to Charlotte to take on the West Charlotte [NC] Lions Friday night.

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, Aug. 22 — Saying that an extra point cost West Charlotte a chance to upset North Carolina's top-ranked Grimsley feels like just stating the obvious.

Because a missed two-point conversion try in overtime by the Lions going for the win in their 28-27 loss to the Whirlies obviously proved to be the difference, at least, in the lights on the scoreboard. But this game, the evening finale of the Keep Pounding Classic played at the Carolina Panthers' Bank of America Stadium, was about so much more than a single play.

It was about the nation's top-ranked Class of 2026 quarterback and overall recruit – a 5-star talent by the name of Faizon Brandon – struggling all night to crack a pesky Lions' defense. And then watching him rise to the occasion in overtime, living up to a number that can be a weight as much as it is a rating. A blessing, but yes, sometimes a burden.

And it was about a scrappy group of kids on the West Charlotte sideline who entered the game determined to be more than just a footnote in Brandon's story. A group of kids playing with a ferocity like, yes, Lions, with the leader of their own pack mostly matching the 5-star Brandon on this night despite the lack of any stars in front of his own name.

 

 

The narrative during summer camp as this game approached was captured in headlines; this would be a story of an outmatched underdog vs. a popular favorite – a David of sorts vs. a nationally-ranked Goliath – even if that narrative sometimes glossed over the fact that this game would feature two defending state champions. Yes, the unblemished and unbeaten Grimsley Whirlies with the sparkling 16-0 record as the Class 4A kingpins from 2024. But also a worthy battle-tested opponent in the 13-2 Class 3A champion West Charlotte Lions.

And, in reality, there wasn't much at all to separate these two North Carolina powers. Grimsley may have had the shiny star, the name on the marquee that helped sell tickets and draw a big crowd, but West Charlotte's unheralded supporting cast was the glue that held this whole production together.

And it held quite well through four quarters and an overtime, thanks in large part to a West Charlotte defense that failed to bend to Brandon's will. There were no cowardly Lions in this bunch.

The Whirlies struck first when Brandon found Hudson Cooper on a quick slant. Cooper outran the Lions' defense across the middle of the field on a jaunt that went 59 yards to put the Whirlies up 7-0. West Charlotte then evened it up at seven apiece when Lions' quarterback Jamouri Nichols scrambled to his left and spotted Donte Nicholson alone in the end zone.

Micah Williams then gave Grimsley a 14-7 lead on a 1-yard dive in the second quarter, and the game would stay there until around the six-minute mark of the fourth quarter. That's when things started to get a little wild. First, West Charlotte scored to make it 14-13 before missing the PAT. Then Grimsley would go up 21-13 approaching the final minute of the game seemingly putting it out of reach.

Not so fast. The Lions then drove quickly downfield and scored again to make it 21-19. After a successful 2-point conversion, the game was tied at 21-all.

That's where things stood headed into overtime, and the pattern of Grimsley scoring followed by an answer from West Charlotte continued. First, it was Brandon on a short quarterback keeper to put the Whirlies up 28-21. Nichols then proved to be Brandon's equal once again, at least on this night, with a short run of his own to pull the Lions to within one at 28-27.

It would finally end there when Nichols took a snap on a gutsy 2-point conversion attempt and was immediately pressured by a ferocious blitz from Grimsley safety Makai Yon. Forced to abandon the play with a desperate pass attempt in Yon's grasp, the ball fell harmlessly to the ground, and Grimsley finally escaped Charlotte with the win.

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|| GAME NOTES ||

And Grimsley hangs on! The nation's top-ranked prospect Faizon Brandon gets the winning touchdown in overtime, and the Whirlies make it stand with a 28-27 win.

Live updates, game time, streaming info: Grimsley [NC] survives West Charlotte [NC] in overtime, 28-27

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And West Charlotte answers. They may be considering a 2-pt. conversion.

 

 

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They've ended up going to overtime in Charlotte. Grimsley scored first on this play:

 

 

 

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A Grimsley highlight from the first half:

 

 

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Still 14-7 Grimsley approaching the half.

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The live stream for the game is not working tonight, but Grimsley currently leads West Charlotte, 14-7. We've got the highlight of the touchdown that put them in the lead.

 

 

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TOP 25 AND THE GAME OF THE WEEK ...

While you're getting ready for tonight's big game, get yourself up to speed on the preseason edition of The Sporting News High School Football Top 25.

Then check out our TSN Game of the Week Recap featuring the No. 14 Milton (GA) Eagles at the No. 12 Buford (GA) Wolves on Thursday, August 14, 2025.

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OUR PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAMS ...

Finally, don't miss out on The Sporting News Preseason All-American Teams that just debuted today!

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Kendall Webb

Kendall Webb is a freelance writer with The Sporting News and the former publisher of the College Football America Yearbook. He is a proud alumnus of Kilgore College (AA), the University of Texas at Austin (BJ), Middle Tennessee State University (BS), and Harvard University (ALM). Webb has attended a high school or college football game in more than 40 states during his career as a freelance journalist, and he remains an avid follower of team sports at all levels.