Nash Community College is bringing statewide attention to high school football through the production of Grit & Grind, a live weekly football show filmed on campus with the support of staff and students.
The show, hosted by cousins Shawn and Deryl Lucas, covers more than 33 high school teams from eastern to western North Carolina. Originally launched as a podcast, Grit & Grind has grown into a live, studio-produced program that has quickly gained traction across the state.
“The impact of Grit & Grind has already been special for us,” said Deryl Lucas. “Our main goal is to shine a spotlight on the talent, hard work, and heart that Eastern North Carolina football brings every Friday night. Too often, these players, coaches, and communities don’t get the recognition they deserve, so we wanted to create a platform where their stories can be told, their highlights can be celebrated, and their communities can come together around the game they love.”
Shawn Lucas added that the show is about creating memories for the next generation.
“I want this show to be something that students in this generation can remember when their high school playing days are over,” said Shawn Lucas. “I remember as a high school student, I couldn’t wait until Friday night after the game to get home and watch Tom Suiter on WRAL host Football Friday Night. I want this generation to have the memory of being able to recall that their name or school was highlighted on Grit & Grind.”
The program is produced inside Nash Community College’s Studio67 by Andrew Small, director of instructional media and executive producer of the show. Small also teaches in the college’s Audio and Video Production Technology program, giving students hands-on experience in professional behind-the-scenes roles.
“Students enrolled in the Audio and Video Production program have the opportunity to participate in filming the live show, acting in a professional capacity,” said Small. “It’s something they can put on their resume and highlight reel when they graduate and apply for jobs. Experience on this show has led to students getting employment in sporting facilities and on university sports production departments.”
Small, who has worked at Nash Community College for 15 years, joined the college after a career in journalism as an editor, photographer, videographer and producer. Since the opening of Studio67 in 2015 and the launch of the Audio and Video Production Technology program in 2018, he has been instrumental in building an outlet for students to gain real-world experience.
“The Grit & Grind is a team show,” Small said. “Students and our faculty come together to give Shawn and Deryl the best platform we can, allowing them to connect with the local high school football community.”
This season, Studio67 introduced a new set and updated graphics, enhancing the show’s production quality. The studio team also manages digital engagement, with highlights reaching thousands of viewers through YouTube and Instagram.
“This is the second year we’ve done the larger live show here in the studio,” Small said. “The student-athletes and coaches love the show and interact with the Instagram and YouTube videos.”
The Lucas cousins say they want Grit & Grind to be more than just another highlight show.
“We hope the show not only gives high school football fans something exciting to follow each week, but also inspires the players and coaches to know their efforts are being seen and appreciated,” said Deryl Lucas “For the football lovers, we want this to feel like home, where rivalries are respected, history is remembered, and the culture of Friday night football is kept alive.”
Grit & Grind airs live on YouTube (@Studio67NCC) every Wednesday (5 p.m.) during the high school football season. A podcast version is available immediately after the Wednesday live show on Spotify and Amazon Music by searching STUDIO67, or locals can listen on 89.1FM Big Bang Radio (Wednesday and Thursday nights at 7 p.m. and Friday mornings at 7 a.m.).
