Keep Pounding Classic produces doubleheader thrillers

MATT LACZKO | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Hough High quarterback Ethan Royal (1) accounted for both Huskies scores in their 14-10 win against Rock Hill South Pointe in the Keep Pounding Classic. Hough is No. 2 in The Post's Magnificent Seven rankings.

Mecklenburg County’s finest was on display in front of over 12,000 fans at Bank of America Stadium.

In the third installment of the Keep Pounding Classic, Hough High edged Rock Hill South Pointe 14-10 and Greensboro Grimsley held off West Charlotte 28-27 in overtime. 

Hough vs. South Pointe

In what can only be described as a defensive onslaught, Hough — ranked second in The Post’s Magnificent Seven — scored a late touchdown to edge South Carolina power South Pointe. 

“I think this win is great,” Huskies coach DeShawn Baker said. “The last four or so years we have lost our first game to a South Carolina powerhouse, and coming in here and knocking them off, and having a good friend as coach [Bobby Collins at South Pointe], that is bragging rights for myself and for the kids. I think the momentum we can get from a win like this is big for the program.”

After the game, Baker declared Hough “the kings of the Queen City.” 

“Yeah, we go back and forth with West Charlotte, but you know they did win a state championship, but we are the kings of the Queen City, the lake or whatever they want to call it,” he said. “They have to go through us to get there.”

Hough quarterback Ethan Royal, who was responsible for both Huskies touchdowns to earn the player of the game award, felt his team made a statement. 

“This is most definitely a statement,” he said. “It shows that we can overcome [adversity]. Like coach said, we lost to South Carolina teams for like three years in a row and all were fairly close games, but this is just a big statement.”

Collins said losing was difficult, but it can be beneficial early in the season. 

“This was good for us,” he said. “One team has to win and one team has to lose. So, we’ve just got to fix our problems and be able to score some more points in order to win. You can’t win a state championship in the state of South Carolina and only score 10 points.”

Baker said Hough, which trailed 10-7 late, did better than in years past when facing adversity. It’s a promising development moving forward.

“We talked about adversity with our guys,” Baker said, “and last year, especially early in the season, the first thing that happened when adversity struck was the kids’ heads would drop. These guys were constantly in the game, even when we got stagnant on offense. That was good to see.”

West Charlotte vs. Grimsley

In the primetime game, West Charlotte mounted a comeback, but a false start penalty on a two-point conversion in overtime cost the Lions. 

MATT LACZKO | THE CHARLOTTE POST

West Charlotte quarterback Jamouri Nichols completed 16-of-20 passes for 170 yards and ran for three touchdowns on 11 carriers in the Lions' 28-27 overtime loss to Greensboro Grimsley.

“I thought we were the better football team, not the cleaner football team tonight,” West Charlotte coach Sam Greiner said. “I think that we have some grit, and I think [Grimsley] is happy that we aren’t in their classification. We are happy they aren’t in our classification. [Grimsley] is a heck of a football team.”

West Charlotte, No. 1 in the Magnificent Seven, committed three turnovers, including two when the Lions were in position to score. 

After tying the game with 1:35 in regulation, the Whirlies scored on fourth and 1 in overtime. West Charlotte quarterback Jamouri Nichols scored on a 10-yard run. Greiner called for a two-point try. 

“I was 100% going for two,” he said. “I wish we didn’t get another penalty. I was going to let [Nichols] do whatever he thought was right in that spot. He is a dog. I’ve been trying to tell everybody that he is the best quarterback in the city. He showed that tonight. He went toe-to-toe with [Tennessee commit Faizon Brandon of Grimsley] and, [Brandon] is special. He is a great player, but [Nichols] is 5-10 with a seven-foot-tall heart.”

Nichols went 16-for-20 passing for 170 yards and rushed 11 times for 70 yards and three touchdowns.

After being stymied on their first drive, Grimsley settled in and found a rhythm on offense — primarily thanks to Brandon. 

“It was tough sledding all night,” Whirlies coach Darryl Brown said. “We had a really big play from Hudson [Cooper] there on the screen play that Faizon hit him on. He is able to do that because [Brandon] is so accurate with the ball. [Cooper] didn’t have to break stride or anything. We were able to hit a few run plays here and there, but overall, it was really tough to sustain anything.”

Greiner said West Charlotte’s focus will be cleaning up penalties but overall he felt the Lions team was poised, which will bode well in November. 

“I am never going to take away from the passion our kids play with,” he said. “It makes us really special. We started cramping, it is early in the season, but guess what? At the end of the season, that won’t be a factor.”

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