Brotherly bonds, state champs at Keep Pounding Classic 

HOUGH ATHLETICS

Hough High, No. 2 in The Post's Magnificent Seven rankings, opens the season against Rock Hill South Pointe at the Keep Pounding Classic.

High school football is back.

The third annual Keep Pounding High School Classic is Friday at Bank of America Stadium with a doubleheader – Hough against Rock Hill South Pointe at 4 p.m., followed by West Charlotte against Greensboro Grimsley in a clash of 2024 North Carolina title winners. Tickets are $11 after applicable fees and available at Ticketmaster. Hough will face South Pointe at 4 p.m. followed by 2024 3A champion West Charlotte going up against last year's 4A champion Greensboro Grimsley.

The Post had a chance to chat with all four head coaches on the Sports Charlotte podcast. Here is what they had to say:

Hough vs. South Pointe

Hough, ranked second in The Post’s Magnificent Seven, are one of North Carolina’s best teams. But the one thing they’re missing is a state championship. Coach DeShawn Baker is ready to change that narrative. 

For South Pointe, coach Bobby Collins has North Carolina ties. He coached at Hough when the school opened in 2010 and was there until 2014. Baker and Collins were college teammates at South Carolina State. 

“I was a fifth-year senior when [Baker] came in as a freshman” Collins said. “He was a special [running] back, and a special player coming out of Charlotte. So, we were good. Coach Buddy Pough came in and we had a dominant offensive line. He knew we wanted to run the ball, and [Baker] joined a great room of running backs. He is in our Hall of Fame right now at South Carolina State.”

Said Baker: “For me, this matchup is exciting, because like Bobby said, I came in as a youngster and they all kind of took me under their wing. I was able to play as a freshman. I tell everybody that Bobby is probably in the top two funniest people to play with when they are playing, and he isn’t No. 2. He is on the field cracking jokes while he is blocking and everything. … Bobby is a big jokester, and he is always joking around. I had [hair] waves when I was in high school. Bobby would say, ‘Man, Bake how do you get them waves in your hair boy? If I had the waves, I’d be a 12. I am a 10 now, but if I had the waves, I’d be a 12.’”

Two players to watch are South Pointe’s Ja’Zavien Currence and Samari Matthews from Hough. Both are Division I commits – Currence to South Carolina and Matthews to Texas. What is unique about these two is they are both committed as defensive backs — although Currence plays some wide receiver — and great friends. 

“The word you hear the most when you’re around [Matthews and Currence] is compete,” Collins said. “Those two love to compete. Both guys are going to play in the SEC, so I don’t think the stage will be too big for them. I think it is going to be a great competition on Friday night, and I look forward to seeing them play.”

Said Baker: “A lot of people don’t know this but [Currence and Matthews] are like best friends. They do everything together… so it will be great to see that.”

While the two coaches and players have a tight knit relationship, come Friday, it is game on and there will be some trash talking.

“Having played together, I know we both love to compete and compete at a high level,” Collins said. “I tell my kids all the time on Fridays that I am their biggest cheerleader. … I know a lot of [Hough’s] staff and their staff knows a lot of my coaches. Both Baker and I will tell the referees before the game that when you hear the trash talking [let it slide] because it is nothing personal. It is to have a little fun.”

Said Baker: “Even when we did 7-on-7s with them earlier this year, the refs thought something was about to happen, but I’m like ‘these kids know each other, and they are just talking junk and being competitive.’ We are both just competitive but after the game it’s all love.”

West Charlotte vs. Grimsley

When Magnificent Seven No. 1 West Charlotte faces Grimsley, it will be the first time in KPC history that two previous season public school champions will square off. West Charlotte won the 2024 3A title against Fayetteville 71st while Grimsley took down the Charlotte area gauntlet of Hough and Weddington before beating Rolesville for the 4A title. 

Both West Charlotte coach Sam Greiner and Grimsley’s Darryl Brown are excited for what promises to be one of the season’s best games. 

CAMERON WILLIAMS | THE CHARLOTTE POST

West Charlotte High, the Magnificent Seven's preseason No. 1 team, opens against Greensboro Grimsley Friday in the Keep Pounding Classic.

“We are extremely excited about the opportunity [to play at Bank of America Stadium],” Brown said. “Opening up your season in Bank of America Stadium is a really unique experience and opportunity for our staff, our community and especially our players. I told our players back in March whenever we were selected that we just got to finish the season in [Chapel Hill’s Kenan Stadium] with a championship, and now we open at Bank of America. … We don’t take any of it for granted. We know we are extremely blessed.”

Said Grenier: “We have been preparing for this game all summer. It is an exciting time for our team and for the community. It is exciting for the state. I would recommend everyone get your tickets. I know it is a big venue, but the key is get your tickets, get to your seats early. You get two games for the price of one… but for coach Brown and I, we get to deal with a little bit more of the stress of the week, but it is all about playing the football game.”

The game will feature several of the state’s top players.

“I think the do-it-all, the bread-and-butter guy for us is Rakim Finch,” Greiner said. “He is committed to Air Force. He is a guy for us that does a lot of things for us. He is like [Travis] Kelce for Kansas City. He can run routes really well, beat you over the top, block really well. I think he is going to be the X-factor in the game for us.”

This game will also feature the country’s top quarterback in Grimsley’s Faizon Brandon from Grimsley. Brandon has started at Grimsley since his sophomore year and played in every game even as a freshman. Brown said watching his maturation from a coaching standpoint has been rewarding.

“The thing about Faizon is he is never satisfied,” Brown said. “He works everyday like he has something to prove. That is why he is great. That is what the great ones do. We have morning lifts here at 7 a.m. and he is here at 6 a.m. … He is a winner, a team first guy. I am not saying this because it sounds good, I am saying it because it is true. It is all about winning for him. This offseason he has taken another step with his leadership. Through camp, he has been more vocal. As we have gone through summer he is over there even with the defensive guys, not scolding them but encouraging them. He sets a great tone for our team and our program.”

Playing a high caliber game to open the season is something every coach hopes to do. Brown and Greiner understand the magnitude, and they are ready for the challenge. 

“I feel like our guys are ready for big moments,” Brown said. “I mentioned last year going to Kenan Memorial and winning the state championship. Week two we traveled to Rolesville when they were the No. 1 team in the state. We have got a lot of guys who have played in big games. Playing in Bank of America is a big deal but it is one where I think our kids are ready for it.”

For Greiner, this game has added meaning. Even after winning the 3A title last year, some naysayers still didn’t believe in the Lions because their championship wasn’t in the highest classification, so it wasn’t as tough to win. Greiner feels it is time for folks to respect West Charlotte.

“Look, that is why you play the game,” he said. “If we thought we had no chance to beat Grimsley, no matter what we are making for this game, we wouldn’t risk that as a program. I think we can compete with them. And I don’t think they are taking us for granted. … It was really hard to win any classification. Was Grimsley the best team in the state last year? Absolutely. That was last year; this is 2025, we are excited for the opportunity and if we could win this game it would be great for our program. I don’t think any of us are hurting if we lose this game. Everyone wants to see the game because these are two of the best teams in the state.”

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