The Grimsley / Hough Conundrum

[drop_tables]

For many years on messages boards such as these, folks would say until you beat the top team, you cannot be ranked above said top team. Well that's the case here. Grimsley has never lost to Hough. Yet, just about everywhere has Hough ranked higher than Grimsley. Our very own unwritten rules are being broken before our eyes.

2022: Grimsley 40, Hough 37 F/3OT (Playoffs)
2023: Grimsley 42, Hough 35 F (Playoffs)
2024: Grimsley 35, Hough 28 F (Playoffs)

Last year Grimsley was ranked higher and rated higher in all the polls and computer systems in pre-season and throughout the season. It wasn't until later in the season when Hough started to turn some heads. Hough has continued to add pieces in the portal this past off season while it seems like Grimsley didn't get nearly as many high profile transfers this summer compared to past years. Plus, they lost their D1 QB. So Hough is currently ranked higher based off paper/depth charts/transfers. Instead of past success.

So, who is better? WHO YA GOT?

 

[PortcityFB]

I was surprised how competitive the Clayton-Grimsley game was. Clayton imploded in the 3rd qtr which was the difference in the game. I watched Hoggard completely dominate Clayton (38-14). I think Rolesville would have matched up well with Clayton and I feel Millbrook would have beat them, pulling away. Hough was better than Millbrook last year for sure. Grimsley may have been the 4th or 5th ranked team in 8A last year.
Hough
Millbrook
Hoggard
Rolesville/Grimsley

Hough will have to put things together but they have added much talent thru the portal. I would go with Hough as the best team in the state heading into the season.

 

[Vik-Val 86]

That would probably been fun matchup this year. Or maybe put Hough n Grimsley in a non conference matchup for next year.

 

[Bigdadd1110]

22,23,24 Grimsley was better and had homefield advantage. In 25 Hough was maybe the best team in NC history and could be better this year, Saw both Grimsley and Hough multiple times and it wasn't close. Hough was much better. Grimsley should have lost to WC. Hough dominated an excellent WC team at home. Homefield in the playoffs in these matchup is easily 8-10 points to the home team. PD is gonna get killed going to Hough. Not sure the last time Hough lost at home. WC/Grimsley is going to be more competitive than folks think.

 

[PortcityFB]

22,23,24 Grimsley was better and had homefield advantage. In 25 Hough was maybe the best team in NC history and could be better this year, Saw both Grimsley and Hough multiple times and it wasn't close. Hough was much better. Grimsley should have lost to WC. Hough dominated an excellent WC team at home. Homefield in the playoffs in these matchup is easily 8-10 points to the home team. PD is gonna get killed going to Hough. Not sure the last time Hough lost at home. WC/Grimsley is going to be more competitive than folks think.

You are usually spot on but I will disagree with you about the 25 Hough team being the best in state history. Maybe you are being a little sarcastic.

 

[Bigdadd1110]

You are usually spot on but I will disagree with you about the 25 Hough team being the best in state history. Maybe you are being a little sarcastic.

Nah. No sarcasm at all. With the advancement of the game the teams now are better than teams 20-30 years ago as a whole. Especially the better to elite teams. There is less parity now. Grimsley ended the season nationally ranked and most football guys would say Hough was better last year than Grimsley. Just based on common opponents Hough was much better. WC, WF.

-Wouldn't have said that at all until I saw them live. Have seen a lot of football and Hough 25 may have been top 5 of the most dominant teams i've ever seen in NC highschool football. That includes Northern Durham 93, Richmond 97/98. Indy 02-04, Mallard CReek 13-15 Some of the Crest teams. dutch fork. Dudley, weddington 23.

Just think on it and give me a more impressive team than Hough 25.......... And we can discuss.

 

[PortcityFB]

21-0 over Millbrook was impressive and I do not want to take anything away from Hough with that win. Millbrook had a legit defense but their offense was nothing special. The shutout was not surprising to me. I have seen many high power offensive teams over the years that would have beaten Millbrook worse, mainly because the defense would simply wear down by being on the field too much. Indy 04 and 06 had the defense to shut Millbrook down and the offense to score much more.

 

[Vik-Val 86]

Mooresville will travel to Grimsley tomorrow for scrimmage on Aug 7. I want make it but interested to hear how it goes.

 

[Bigdadd1110]

21-0 over Millbrook was impressive and I do not want to take anything away from Hough with that win. Millbrook had a legit defense but their offense was nothing special. The shutout was not surprising to me. I have seen many high power offensive teams over the years that would have beaten Millbrook worse, mainly because the defense would simply wear down by being on the field too much. Indy 04 and 06 had the defense to shut Millbrook down and the offense to score much more.

Indy 04 possibly. Indy 06 no way. They should have lost 2-3 games that year. Hough would destroy Indy 06. Indy 07-09 proved it. 06 may have been the weakest championship team but McFadden was great.

Millbrook avg about 40 on the year and was very good offensively. To give up 10 points vs. WF, WC, and Millbrook is super impressive. Then 17 points total the entire playoffs. Give me one prior state champ that could have done that.

 

[ForsythCoNC]

We would be able to decide this on the field in the playoffs year in and year out if the sport wasn't so watered down with all of these divisions.

 

[Kylar24]

Wish we could see
1a champ vs 2 champ
3 champ vs 4 champ
5 champ vs 6 champ
7

 

[drop_tables]

Wish we could see
1a champ vs 2 champ
3 champ vs 4 champ
5 champ vs 6 champ
7

Same was said when it was 4AA, 4A, 3AA, 3A, 2AA, etc etc.
Then it was fixed when we went back to 4 classifications.
Now we are back in the same boat as before.....

The lesson learned should be, Instead of going to 8 classes, only have 6 instead.

 

[PortcityFB]

Indy 04 possibly. Indy 06 no way. They should have lost 2-3 games that year. Hough would destroy Indy 06. Indy 07-09 proved it. 06 may have been the weakest championship team but McFadden was great.

Millbrook avg about 40 on the year and was very good offensively. To give up 10 points vs. WF, WC, and Millbrook is super impressive. Then 17 points total the entire playoffs. Give me one prior state champ that could have done that.

I would have loved to watch the 23' NB rushing attack against Hough or Millbrook defense. That would have been fun.
Millbrook did not play a very difficult schedule last year. Here is what they scored against the better teams they played with the team's overall state ranking.

Garner (19)- 34
Rolesville (30)- 28
Jordan (23)-27
Hoggard (15)-14
Hough (2)-0
20.6 ppg avg

I think we just have a difference of option and that's ok. I think Millbrook had an elite defense and a good office. Hough beat them 21-0 which is impressive. Hough beat the 2nd ranked SC team Southpoint by 4 and they beat the 4th ranked team in Virginia by 3. To me that would not put them as the best team in NC history.

 

[NCFB73]

Heard today that Hough has a WR transfer from Ambassador that isn’t living in the district along with a QB from Ambassador. Hough needs to be careful, don’t let a transfer hurt what you got going on!!!!

 

[Mpj2k9]

I would have loved to watch the 23' NB rushing attack against Hough or Millbrook defense. That would have been fun.
Millbrook did not play a very difficult schedule last year. Here is what they scored against the better teams they played with the team's overall state ranking.

Garner (19)- 34
Rolesville (30)- 28
Jordan (23)-27
Hoggard (15)-14
Hough (2)-0
20.6 ppg avg

I think we just have a difference of option and that's ok. I think Millbrook had an elite defense and a good office. Hough beat them 21-0 which is impressive. Hough beat the 2nd ranked SC team Southpoint by 4 and they beat the 4th ranked team in Virginia by 3. To me that would not put them as the best team in NC history.

I would have loved Hough to get over the Grimsley mountain to win their first championship. As a Butler guy it wouldn’t have been the same if Butler didn’t beat the Tom Knotts led Independence Patriots to officially be “the man”. Hough was impressive last year and they beat really good teams in other states. Can’t really poke holes in what they did last year

 

[PortcityFB]

I bet all the Hough guys would have preferred going thru Grimsley as well.

 

[Vik-Val 86]

One thing about it. I believe Hough will be better this year than last season. I’m curious just to see how many points they give up all season and how many points they will score all season.

 

[RaynManCommenter]

Working on beefing up my matchup predictor but Hough beats Grimsley on a neutral field in 2025— according to my analytics. It seems like this should be a non-conference home and home series though.

 

[NCFB73]

One thing about it. I believe Hough will be better this year than last season. I’m curious just to see how many points they give up all season and how many points they will score all season.

They should be better,with all the transfers they have got….but they need to be very careful. I know the guy I talked to today said if they play this WR it will end up costing them. I guess time will tell.

 

[drop_tables]

Hough as more talent. But, I think Grimsley wins based on coaching staff.

 

[Ramkant]

“To be the man, you gotta beat the man.”

- R. Flair

 

[drop_tables]

Bottom line, until Hough beats Grimsley. Grimsley is the best team in the state.

 

[NCFB73]

Any Hough guys know if Londyn McElroy (WR) transferred from Ambassador Christian to Hough?

 

[Mr Honda]

Bottom line, until Hough beats Grimsley. Grimsley is the best team in the state.

That's laughable. Those three years Grimsley beat Hough in the playoffs, the only reason Grimsley swept them those three games was they had homefield advantage. Different story if they had played on a neutral field.

 

[ShowTime7]

Any Hough guys know if Londyn McElroy (WR) transferred from Ambassador Christian to Hough?

Wow! I thought you didn’t care?

 

[NCFB73]

Wow! I thought you didn’t care?

You made me care. Good luck!

 

[drop_tables]

That's laughable. Those three years Grimsley beat Hough in the playoffs, the only reason Grimsley swept them those three games was they had homefield advantage. Different story if they had played on a neutral field.

It's always some type of excuse. You know the saying, play it anytime, anywhere.... doesnt matter. a loss is a loss, times 3.

 

[Mr Honda]

It's always some type of excuse. You know the saying, play it anytime, anywhere.... doesnt matter. a loss is a loss, times 3.

Then why does Grimsley look like world beaters at home, but just a little better than average away from home?