Grayson holds off undefeated Carrollton to win Georgia 6A state title

Buoyed by a devastating running game and a stout defense, Grayson reigns over Georgia high school football’s highest classification once more.

The Rams did just enough to slow down the high-powered Carrollton offense and highly-ranked quarterback Julian Lewis, scoring 21 second-half points en route to a 38-24 victory in the Class 6A state title game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

It marks the first title since 2020 and fourth overall since 2011 for Grayson, one of the Peach State’s premier programs. The Rams’ defense, led by 2026 five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson, got after Lewis, sacking him four times and forcing a pair of interceptions and a fumble late in the fourth quarter.

After Grayson went up 10-0 early in the first quarter, Lewis, the Colorado-bound passer, threw two first-half touchdowns. That put Carrollton up 14-10 and a second-quarter field goal gave them a touchdown advantage.

The Rams, who had ripped off 13 straight wins since a 20-19 loss to Collins Hill to open the season, struggled to move the ball after their first two touchdowns. Following three consecutive punts, they eventually tied the game at 17 apiece on a 93-yard touchdown drive that ended with a short touchdown run from back Elijah Miller.

The 5-foot-9, 200-pounder — who was one of four Grayson runners to top 400 yards this season — notched his 12th touchdown of the year with the score.

Lewis and Co. got a chance to tie on the next possession, starting with excellent field position after Texas offensive line signee Nick Brooks drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and was ejected. Grayson’s defense bowed its neck though and forced a punt.

The teams traded punts for the rest of the half, until Carrollton’s Peyton Zachary returned one 54 yards for a touchdown, only for it to be called back on a hold.

Key turnovers doom Carrollton’s bid for title

After the break, each team scored early in the third quarter to push it to a 24-24 tie. Grayson’s defense came up with a key stop after Carrollton moved the ball into their territory.

A 43-yard field Trojans field goal attempt bounced off the crossbar, and the Rams took over in their own territory. Led by their running game, they gashed Carrollton’s defense before Miller scored his second touchdown of the night to give Grayson a 31-24 lead.

Lewis moved the Trojans back into Rams territory on the next drive, but was picked off on a long throw toward the end zone. Grayson couldn’t capitalize though, gaining one first down before punting the ball away with 9:17 to go.

Another lengthy Carrollton drive into Grayson’s half of the field ended on a fourth-down interception thrown by Lewis, his second turnover of the night. The Rams capitalized on that one, as Miller scampered in from 25 yards out to extend the lead to 38-24. Grayson’s defense forced one final turnover for good measure, sacking Lewis and recovering the ensuing fumble.

Another last-gasp possession punctuated by one more sack secured the Rams place in the history books.

For Carrollton, it was a frustrating ending for the winningest program in the state this century. The Trojans have won 253 games since 2000, but have yet to come away with that elusive state title. It also caps the historic career of Lewis, a three-year starter who threw for over 10,000 yards and 144 touchdowns.