The Grimsley Varsity Football Team (Greensboro, NC) will host a home playoff game against Western Guilford (Greensboro, NC) today at 7:30 p.m. This matchup is part of the 2024 NCHSAA Football Championships – 4A tournament.

Western Guilford vs Grimsley Football Game Info:

What: North Carolina High School Football Playoffs
Who: Western Guilford vs Grimsley
When: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m.
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Game preview: Western Guilford vs Grimsley

As the high school football season enters the playoff stage, the matchup between Grimsley and Western Guilford is poised to be a thrilling contest. The two Greensboro, NC-based teams will face off for the second time this season, with Grimsley looking to extend its perfect record and Western Guilford hoping to bounce back from a tough regular season.

Team Records & Rankings

Grimsley (10-0 overall, 7-0 conference) enters the game as one of the most dominant teams in the state, having finished the regular season unbeaten. With a conference record of 7-0, they have outperformed every opponent they’ve faced, including a resounding 48-0 win over Western Guilford in their first encounter of the season on October 4. Grimsley’s impressive play has seen them score an average of 47.1 points per game while allowing only 8.1 points. The team’s success has largely been due to standout players like Faizon Brandon and Mitchell Summers, both of whom have been instrumental in the team’s offensive and defensive strategies.

On the other hand, Western Guilford (4-6 overall, 1-6 conference) enters the playoffs after a challenging season. Despite a solid home record of 3-2, their conference performance has been lackluster, with only a single win out of six conference matchups. Their overall scoring average stands at 23.3 points per game, but they’ve struggled defensively, conceding an average of 25.9 points. Despite these challenges, players like Timothy Baker and Caleb Moore have shown promise, and the team will be hoping to surprise Grimsley in this crucial playoff game.

Head-to-Head History

The previous matchup between these two teams was a clear victory for Grimsley, with the 48-0 scoreline reflecting the gap between the teams. Grimsley dominated the game on both sides of the ball, shutting out Western Guilford and asserting their superiority early and often. Now, with the stakes even higher in a playoff context, Western Guilford will be looking to redeem themselves and put up a stronger fight.

Key Stats and Players to Watch

• Grimsley’s Offense: Grimsley averages 424.7 total yards per game, with their rushing game particularly potent, posting 244.1 rushing yards per game. A large part of their success can be attributed to Mitchell Summers, who has rushed for 130.2 yards per game, and Faizon Brandon, a key contributor both in passing and running plays.
• Western Guilford’s Offense: The Hornets have averaged 270.9 total yards per game, with 194.9 rushing yards and 76.0 passing yards. They’ll need a big performance from Timothy Baker (92.2 rushing yards per game) and Caleb Moore (116.1 total yards per game) to keep pace with Grimsley’s high-scoring attack.
• Grimsley’s Defense: Grimsley has been relentless on defense, averaging 81.7 tackles per game and 3.1 sacks per game. Key defensive players like Bryce Davis (7.8 tackles per game) will be critical in slowing down the Western Guilford offense.
• Western Guilford’s Defense: While not as strong statistically as Grimsley’s, Western Guilford’s defense has had its moments, particularly with Simeon Libby, who leads the team with 8.4 tackles per game.

Common Opponents

Both teams have faced a number of common opponents this season, with Grimsley finishing with a perfect 6-0 record against those teams, while Western Guilford struggled to a 1-5 record. Grimsley’s dominance in these matchups—including blowout wins over teams like Southwest Guilford (71-0) and Ragsdale (49-7)—has only reinforced their reputation as one of the top teams in the state.

Playoff Implications

The stakes for this game couldn’t be higher. Grimsley is aiming to continue their flawless season and make a deep playoff run, while Western Guilford is hoping to use the playoff stage to turn their season around and challenge one of the state’s top teams. The Hornets have their work cut out for them, but with their star players capable of producing big plays, they could surprise the Grimsley team if given the chance.

Conclusion

While Grimsley enters this game as the heavy favorite, Western Guilford will not go down without a fight. The combination of Grimsley’s powerful offense and stout defense makes them the team to beat, but playoff football is always full of surprises. Will Grimsley continue their undefeated streak, or will Western Guilford stage an upset? Football fans across Greensboro will be eagerly watching this high-stakes game unfold.

The game will kick off at 7:30 PM at Grimsley High School, and it promises to be a thrilling contest as both teams battle for playoff glory.