Varina at Grimsley (NC)

Mr Honda

All-Conference
Nov 12, 2012
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This week, Varina out of Richmond will travel to North Carolina to meet Grimsley (Greensboro, NC). Varina comes in with a record of 4-1. They're coming off a huge win over Henrico 62-0. Grimsley is coming off of an equally impressive 66-6 win over Western Guilford. Grimsley is 5-0 for the season.

I don't know about Varina or other teams in Virginia, as I live in NC now, though I did graduate from Hermitage in 1970. Over the last several seasons, Grimsley was intent on making extensive use of transfers. They have become the poster child for openly using transfers. As a result, they aren't exactly the most rooted for program in North Carolina.

Prior to their current coach's arrival in 2017, Grimsley had gone 31-78 since 2008, up to 2017. He had a transition year in 2018, going 7-6. Since 2019, Grimsley has gone 83-4, with only one of those losses being in the regular season.

Perhaps some of you guys in Virginia can give more insight into Varina this season.

Massey has Grimsley winning 39-20.
 
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GoBlue2109

Senior
Jul 26, 2022
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Coming into the season I would've said Grimsley in a blowout but the other top VA teams have all gone toe to toe with the other top NC teams this year even though they are all losses. Varina is pretty stacked and has at least 5 D1 athletes on the field at any given time. It does sound like Grimsley is a bit clear cut above the other teams at the moment but you never know until you play. Varina is potentially missing a couple of those D1 guys for this game. I would say Grimsley 30-14 but I don't think it will get ugly. Varina lost to what many probably believe is the top VA team (unless Oscar Smith is the new "best team") in Maury 14-13. I think Varina will for sure hang for at least a half.
 

Mr Honda

All-Conference
Nov 12, 2012
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Coming into the season I would've said Grimsley in a blowout but the other top VA teams have all gone toe to toe with the other top NC teams this year even though they are all losses. Varina is pretty stacked and has at least 5 D1 athletes on the field at any given time. It does sound like Grimsley is a bit clear cut above the other teams at the moment but you never know until you play. Varina is potentially missing a couple of those D1 guys for this game. I would say Grimsley 30-14 but I don't think it will get ugly. Varina lost to what many probably believe is the top VA team (unless Oscar Smith is the new "best team") in Maury 14-13. I think Varina will for sure hang for at least a half.
Yes, that's my take. Grimsley has been without top 5 Star QB recruit Brandon Faizon for a game or so with injury. I'm not sure as of yet, if he'll play against Varina. Also, I don't exactly buy what Massey was selling regarding the matchup. Varina and Highland Springs both have been tough over the years.
 
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edwinanderson2nd

Sophomore
Aug 20, 2019
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Yes, that's my take. Grimsley has been without top 5 Star QB recruit Brandon Faizon for a game or so with injury. I'm not sure as of yet, if he'll play against Varina. Also, I don't exactly buy what Massey was selling regarding the matchup. Varina and Highland Springs both have been tough over the years.
From what I’ve it seems like Grimsley hasn’t lost a step since Faizon been out. And he’s been out since the first game if im not mistaken
 

edwinanderson2nd

Sophomore
Aug 20, 2019
341
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I feel the same about Varina keeping it competitive for the first half, I just don’t see Varina putting up a lot of points. I think the big difference in this game will be the coaching. I see it being a 27-6 type of game
 

sammyk32

Freshman
Sep 30, 2025
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This week, Varina out of Richmond will travel to North Carolina to meet Grimsley (Greensboro, NC). Varina comes in with a record of 4-1. They're coming off a huge win over Henrico 62-0. Grimsley is coming off of an equally impressive 66-6 win over Western Guilford. Grimsley is 5-0 for the season.

I don't know about Varina or other teams in Virginia, as I live in NC now, though I did graduate from Hermitage in 1970. Over the last several seasons, Grimsley was intent on making extensive use of transfers. They have become the poster child for openly using transfers. As a result, they aren't exactly the most rooted for program in North Carolina.

Prior to their current coach's arrival in 2017, Grimsley had gone 31-78 since 2008, up to 2017. He had a transition year in 2018, going 7-6. Since 2019, Grimsley has gone 83-4, with only one of those losses being in the regular season.

Perhaps some of you guys in Virginia can give more insight into Varina this season.

Massey has Grimsley winning 39-20.
As a NC coach who now teaches at the Middle school right next to Varina I have to go with Coach Brown and Grimsley. Varina is a very good team but I think Grimsley has too much right now. And whats up Mr. Honda
 

Mr Honda

All-Conference
Nov 12, 2012
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As a NC coach who now teaches at the Middle school right next to Varina I have to go with Coach Brown and Grimsley. Varina is a very good team but I think Grimsley has too much right now. And whats up Mr. Honda
I agree with you. Just plugging along. You doing good?
 

ABJ152015

Redshirt
Aug 3, 2024
14
15
2
Does anybody has the latest on Varina RB Darren Williams situation . I know an article was released today about his transfer to Varina but was flag due to residency in Varina school district but has already played 3 games for Varina.
 

General172011

Senior
Aug 22, 2022
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This game shouldn’t be close Varina is dominating the LOS and Grimsley is bigger than them. Outside of that great play by the end it should be 21-7 Varina. This is not the #17 in the country I expected more
 

edwinanderson2nd

Sophomore
Aug 20, 2019
341
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Bad look for Varina coaching staff for the postgame incident. Players showing more maturity than some of their own coaches
 

edwinanderson2nd

Sophomore
Aug 20, 2019
341
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It wasn’t shown on the broadcast screen, but apparently couple of the coaches tried to approach the refs after the game for some of the calls towards the end of the game. The police on the sidelines had to step in between. That escalated the situation causing the players to start barking each other, which was sad to see because there was a lot of respect being shown from the players from both teams when the game initially ended.
 

acoles

Sophomore
Sep 28, 2005
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This game shouldn’t be close Varina is dominating the LOS and Grimsley is bigger than them. Outside of that great play by the end it should be 21-7 Varina. This is not the #17 in the country I expected more
Like I said in a previous post about a month ago I watched some of Grinsley football games on the high school football network and I didn't see anything that Varina couldn't handle and I was highly disputed. My opinion Varina should have won this game. They lost by one point to the number one team in Virginia and lost by seven points to Grinsley the # 17 team in the nation. Give credit where credit is due Varina has a very good football team.
 

rams10

All-Conference
Dec 2, 2011
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This game shouldn’t be close Varina is dominating the LOS and Grimsley is bigger than them. Outside of that great play by the end it should be 21-7 Varina. This is not the #17 in the country I expected more

Don’t forget they are missing their qb
 
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GoBlue2109

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I think this just proves VAs top teams are right on par with NCs top teams. Can't overlook missing a 5 star QB but I would imagine a program like that has a quality backup.

Sounds like Varina is as good as their discipline will take them. I think against Maury they had the slightly better team but you could tell they just couldn't quite hold it together in tight moments like Maury did. Sounds like the same happened this game.
 

Mr Honda

All-Conference
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It wasn’t shown on the broadcast screen, but apparently couple of the coaches tried to approach the refs after the game for some of the calls towards the end of the game. The police on the sidelines had to step in between. That escalated the situation causing the players to start barking each other, which was sad to see because there was a lot of respect being shown from the players from both teams when the game initially ended.
Welcome to Jamison Stadium. I didn't mention it in the little write up I did for the game, but we here in North Carolina have seen this play out time and time again. When playing Grimsley at home, you've got to be able to keep your composure and overcome penalties. If you're a good team playing Grimsley in a tight game, you're not getting the calls. To be honest, I'm not a big fan of Grimsley at all. There are many in Greensboro, who aren't as well. I was shocked when I saw this game was scheduled. People on our boards have wondered for awhile, why Grimsley wasn't scheduling tougher out of state competition. Hough, and Mallard Creek out of Charlotte are doing it. During their run, Grimsley historically beats up on lesser teams in Guilford County, giving them home games throughout the playoffs. Grimsley isn't the same team away from Jamison stadium. In their season opener, Grimsley played in Charlotte, in Bankd of America Stadium, in the kickoff classic against West Charlotte. Grimsley escaped with a one point win. Of course they were called for exactly one penalty the whole game. A season opener and they were flagged only once in a tight game. To me that was amazing. So, I'm hoping the series with Varina is a home and home. But that was tough game last night. I was hoping Varina could have gotten them into overtime. Yet on the other hand, if Varina took them to overtime, you'd really begin to see the home cooking, when it came to calls. I really wish Varina's fans and their teams good luck during the rest of the season.
 

Mr Honda

All-Conference
Nov 12, 2012
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This game shouldn’t be close Varina is dominating the LOS and Grimsley is bigger than them. Outside of that great play by the end it should be 21-7 Varina. This is not the #17 in the country I expected more
I've thought this everytime I've seen Grimsley rated so high nationally over the last couple of years. My thought is always.."really"? Actually I was very impressed with Varina. See my response regarding the end of game situation. I graduated from Hermitage but currently live in Charlotte, NC. You'll see my feelings about Grimsley.
 
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Aug 24, 2018
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Grimsley had 3 or 4 big plays called back. The Umpire was calling Grimsley for holding way more than Varina. That DPI on Varina to extend the drive was BS, I’ll say that. But I look at stuff like that differently…
 

acoles

Sophomore
Sep 28, 2005
314
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5 star, all world*
Also Varina was missing two of there top running backs and still move the ball effectively against grimsley. I'm very proud of Varina offensive line they held there own. A lot of people say that this game would be a blowout but you don't blow out good teams..
 

acoles

Sophomore
Sep 28, 2005
314
164
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Grimsley had 3 or 4 big plays called back. The Umpire was calling Grimsley for holding way more than Varina. That DPI on Varina to extend the drive was BS, I’ll say that. But I look at stuff like that differently…

Grimsley had 3 or 4 big plays called back. The Umpire was calling Grimsley for holding way more than Varina. That DPI on Varina to extend the drive was BS, I’ll say that. But I look at stuf
 

acoles

Sophomore
Sep 28, 2005
314
164
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Grimsley had 3 or 4 big plays called back. The Umpire was calling Grimsley for holding way more than Varina. That DPI on Varina to extend the drive was BS, I’ll say that. But I look at stuff like that differently…
I look at it this way it's not what the officials call it's what they don't call.
 

GoBlue2109

Senior
Jul 26, 2022
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End of the NFHS version definitely shows a Varina coach run up to refs. Not a good look at all.
 

sammyk32

Freshman
Sep 30, 2025
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My sources in NC said that Varina played a great game. I know its not about moral victories. I know Varina and Grimsley were both missing players(thats football) but hats off to Varina for playing such a quality game against a quality opponent.
 
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71ShadesofNavy

All-American
Dec 4, 2013
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My sources in NC said that Varina played a great game. I know its not about moral victories. I know Varina and Grimsley were both missing players(thats football) but hats off to Varina for playing such a quality game against a quality opponent.
Your sources were spot on. People better not sleep on Varina. They have a ton of weapons and a defense that will be tough to put points on. It is going to take a special team in Region B and Class 4 to beat them. Just looking at the prospective top three in B, Huguenot has the athletes on offense to hang, but I am not sure the defense will. Can Dinwiddie' offense score 21+ points on the Blue Devils and let their sound defense keep them in check . Louisa could break out their old offense and slow things down with a pounding running game. Hiter is the real deal, but can the Lions defense keep Varina's passing game grounded. I tend to doubt it. With that being said I still think Varina is one really dangerous team. If they win out the Blue Devils are going to be a problem.
 

acoles

Sophomore
Sep 28, 2005
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Your sources were spot on. People better not sleep on Varina. They have a ton of weapons and a defense that will be tough to put points on. It is going to take a special team in Region B and Class 4 to beat them. Just looking at the prospective top three in B, Huguenot has the athletes on offense to hang, but I am not sure the defense will. Can Dinwiddie' offense score 21+ points on the Blue Devils and let their sound defense keep them in check . Louisa could break out their old offense and slow things down with a pounding running game. Hiter is the real deal, but can the Lions defense keep Varina's passing game grounded. I tend to doubt it. With that being said I still think Varina is one really dangerous team. If they win out the Blue Devils are going to be a problem.
Yes I agree with you 100%. Varina is a very very dangerous team only allowing 9.8 points scored on them in six games and the offensive scored 211 points in six games. Lost by one point to the number one team in the state of Virginia and by 7 point to the number one team in North Carolina and rank 17th in the nation and lost do those teams by 8 points total. Yes I'm I'm a die-hard Varina fan haven't missed but 11 games in 34 years. My son played basketball for Varina I also had two grandsons that play football for Varina a granddaughter that cheered for Varina and currently have a great grandson playing baseball for Varina. But one thing about me winning or losing I call it like I see it. You are correct if Varina makes the playoffs I believe you will be seeing them playing at Liberty University. Hats off to the coaching staff and welcome back Mr Scott. Go Blue devils!!!
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