The Carolina Panthers hosted four high schools at Bank of America Stadium to preview the 2025 Keep Pounding High School Classic, sponsored by Belk. The event will feature a doubleheader on August 22, with matchups between the Hough Huskies and South Pointe Stallions at 4:00 PM, followed by Grimsley Whirlies versus West Charlotte Lions at 8:00 PM. Tickets are available for $8 on Ticketmaster.com.
Kristi Coleman, CEO of Tepper Sports & Entertainment and President of the Carolina Panthers, stated, “The Carolina Panthers are proud to partner with Belk to kick off the high school football season with two exciting matchups that highlight the important role football plays in bringing communities together.”
South Pointe coach Bobby Collins expressed excitement about representing Rock Hill, South Carolina. “When you’re in Rock Hill, it’s just a different place when it comes to football,” he said. Collins highlighted past NFL players from the area who have played for the Panthers.
Hough’s coach David Baker emphasized their focus on moving forward from last year’s playoff loss to Grimsley. “We don’t talk about last year. Last year is last year,” he remarked.
Coaches engaged in friendly banter during the event, with West Charlotte’s Sam Greiner looking forward to a packed stadium and Grimsley’s Darryl Brown eager for competition.
Belk CEO Don Hendricks shared pride in supporting community events like this one. “This incredible event put on by the Carolina Panthers highlights the talent, determination and spirit of young athletes across our region,” he said.
The games will feature competitive teams from North and South Carolina. Hough is anticipated as a state title contender after a strong 12-2 season in 2024. South Pointe aims for its eighth state championship following an 11-3 record last year. Grimsley enters ranked #16 nationally after an undefeated season culminating in a state championship win. West Charlotte returns most starters from its successful campaign last year.
Greiner noted that starting against strong opponents sets a challenging tone for his team’s season ahead: “There’s a good chance that the hardest game that we play all year might be game 1…I’m thrilled to be in that game.”
