CHAPEL HILL – Grimsley scored 14 unanswered points in the second quarter and made them stand up for a 24-14 victory over Clayton in the NCHSAA state championship game.

The Whirlies trailed 7-0 after Clayton's opening-quarter touchdown but seized control before halftime and never trailed again, claiming their second straight state title and third in six years.

Clayton looked sharp early. Quarterback Aiden Smalls orchestrated an eight-play, 55-yard drive on the game's opening possession, finishing it himself with a 13-yard touchdown run. Nate Lunger's extra point gave the Comets a 7-0 lead with 6:30 left in the first quarter.

Grimsley's response came in the second quarter with a methodical 12-play, 81-yard drive. Quarterback Faizon Brandon found Hudson Cooper for a seven-yard touchdown pass, and Chase Huellmantel's extra point tied the game at 7-7 with 7:20 remaining in the half.

The Whirlies struck again before the break. Brandon capped a 10-play, 74-yard march with a three-yard touchdown plunge with just 37 seconds left in the half. Huellmantel's kick sent Grimsley to the locker room with a 14-7 lead and all the momentum.

That momentum turned into a rout in the third quarter when Makai Yon jumped a route and intercepted Smalls at the Clayton 38. Yon raced untouched to the end zone for a pick-six that pushed the lead to 21-7 just under two minutes into the second half.

Grimsley added a 22-yard Huellmantel field goal midway through the third quarter, extending the advantage to 24-7 and appearing to put the game away.

But Smalls gave Clayton hope. The senior quarterback broke loose for a 61-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to 24-14 with 11:37 to play. Suddenly, the Comets had life.

Clayton forced a turnover on downs with 1:47 remaining and drove deep into Grimsley territory in the final minute. Smalls connected with TJ Campbell for 21 yards to the Grimsley 26, hit Austin Dalton for 14 yards, found River Fiore for 19 yards, then hit Campbell again for 21 yards to reach the Grimsley five-yard line.

With time running out, Clayton had four cracks from inside the five. Smalls threw two incompletions, gained four yards on a third-down rush, then threw incomplete on fourth down as time expired. The Whirlies held on to secure the championship.

Smalls finished with a game-high 167 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries while completing seven of 15 passes for 91 yards. Campbell caught four passes for 66 yards in the losing effort.

Brandon threw for 126 yards and a touchdown while adding 65 yards and another score on the ground for Grimsley. Micah Williams carried 21 times for 101 yards, providing a steady ground game that helped the Whirlies control the clock for more than 26 minutes.

Yon's pick-six proved to be the difference. The defensive back finished with five tackles and a pass breakup in addition to his game-changing interception return. Drew Searls led all tacklers with eight stops, while Kyrie Millner added two tackles for loss and a sack.

For Clayton, Keshawn Stancil recorded 10 tackles and half a sack, while Mason Bucklad contributed seven stops. Jaheim Stevenson intercepted Brandon in the third quarter but the Comets couldn't capitalize.

Grimsley's ability to convert third downs proved crucial, going six-for-11 while holding Clayton to just three-of-10. The Whirlies also won the possession battle by more than five minutes, keeping Smalls and the Clayton offense off the field during critical stretches.

Key Stats

• Grimsley: 314 total yards (188 rushing, 126 passing)
• Clayton: 305 total yards (196 rushing, 109 passing)
• Third down conversions: Grimsley 6-11, Clayton 3-10
• Time of possession: Grimsley 26:37, Clayton 21:17
• Turnovers: Grimsley 1, Clayton 1

The 7A final features a battle between two of the state's most electric quarterbacks, with Clayton (12-2) making its historic debut and Grimsley (14-0) bringing a stellar record and riding a 30-game winning streak powered by a national recruit. This matchup represents the ultimate East-West showdown, with contrasting paths to the championship game.

The Clayton Comets have burst onto the scene in the Triangle area, achieving their first-ever 7A state championship appearance and first final of any kind since 1989, a 36-year gap. Head Coach Scott Chadwick, in his fourth season with a 38-12 record, highlighted a key moment of adversity early in the season: a significant 38-14 loss to Hoggard which forced personnel and coaching staff changes. The team's response to that challenge revealed their character.

Chadwick, who has coached in three state championship games in Maryland and won with Bowie in 2001, knows what it takes to win at this level. His career record of 210-94 over 25 years speaks to sustained excellence. The Comets' response to early adversity, capped by a "galvanizing moment" win over Cleveland and a thrilling 35-32 semifinal victory over Cardinal Gibbons, solidified their mental toughness and trajectory toward the final.

Their success is intrinsically linked to senior quarterback Aiden Smalls, a dynamic dual-threat athlete committed to NC State. Smalls, who also plays basketball, is a true playmaker, utilizing both his exceptional arm talent and positional versatility. This season, he's thrown for 1,784 yards while rushing for 1,348 yards with 24 combined touchdowns. His ability to create with his legs when plays break down makes him nearly impossible to game-plan against. In the previous season, he threw for 1,948 yards and 24 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,006 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning him the GNRC Offensive Player of the Year award.

Smalls is supported by a talented cast, including receiver Parker Ferguson (61.9 yards per game) and a dominant offensive line featuring tackles Cory Robinson and Nick Cappozzi. The defense is anchored by defensive end Keshawn Stancil, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound force who signed with Miami and is one of the nation's top defensive linemen. His presence alongside junior Kaiden Blackwell (7.0 sacks) gives Clayton an elite pass rush.

Clayton's path to the championship has been marked by their ability to rack up ten or more wins for the third consecutive season, demonstrating consistency and program growth. The Comets average 37.9 points per game while allowing 14.1, with a balanced attack that can beat teams through the air or on the ground.

They face the Grimsley Whirlies of Greensboro, a perennial powerhouse led by one of the nation's elite quarterback prospects, Faizon Brandon. Brandon, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound senior, enters the game with a near-flawless 29-1 record as a starter over his career and is the catalyst for Grimsley's 30-game winning streak. He is known for his remarkable efficiency, having completed 72.5% of his passes with 71 touchdowns against just five interceptions prior to his senior year.

His career totals are staggering: 6,374 passing yards and 79 passing touchdowns, complemented by 1,261 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns, confirming his status as an elite dual-threat quarterback. Brandon's ability to manage the game, make all the throws, and extend plays with his mobility will be the biggest challenge for the Clayton defense. He's supported by sophomore running back Ty Shoemake (1,082 yards, 17 touchdowns) and receiver Kaden Catoe (63.1 yards per game).

Head Coach Darryl Brown, in his 10th year at Grimsley with a 107-24 record, has built a program that consistently competes for championships. The Whirlies are ranked #1 in North Carolina and #12 nationally, defending their 2024 state title and seeking back-to-back championships. Their defense has been equally impressive, allowing just 11.6 points per game with key contributors including defensive end Andrew Rogers (8.0 sacks), linebacker Dylan Searls, and free safety Evander Davis (5 interceptions).

Grimsley's season has included impressive playoff wins over Jack Britt (55-12), Reagan (24-7), and a hard-fought 13-7 victory over Weddington in the regional final. That Weddington game, played in challenging conditions, showcased the Whirlies' ability to win ugly when their high-powered offense isn't clicking.

The two teams have met twice before, in 2021 and 2022, with Grimsley winning both contests decisively (56-0 and 42-14). However, this Clayton team is markedly different, battle-tested and featuring elite talent like Smalls and Stancil who can match up with anyone.

The Matchup: The ultimate question is whether the Comets' experience of overcoming adversity can translate into stopping the nation's most efficient quarterback in a true East-West showdown for the 7A crown. Clayton's pass rush, led by Stancil, must disrupt Brandon's rhythm, while Smalls must match Brandon's production and create explosive plays. This game will likely be decided by which defense can generate more pressure and which quarterback handles that pressure better. The 96-mile distance between Clayton and Greensboro is more than geography, it's a collision of two programs peaking at precisely the right moment.