Carrollton Rolls Off 34 Unanswered Points to Stun Grayson, the Nation’s No. 2 Team

Trojans bounced back from an early 14-0 deficit to roll to a 34-14 win over the previously undefeated Rams

Carrollton rallied from an early 14-0 deficit to rout top-ranked Grayson, 34-14, in the Georgia Class 6A state quarterfinals. / Carrollton Trojan Athletics

Carrollton entered Friday’s Class 6A state quarterfinal game with Grayson, the top-ranked team in Georgia and the No. 2 team in the nation, according to High School On SI rankings, seeking a bit of revenge for the loss the Trojans suffered at the hands of Grayson in last year’s state championship game.

Carrollton got that, and then some, as it rallied from an early 14-0 deficit to stun the Rams, 34-14, and advance to the state semifinals next week against North Gwinnett.

Needless to say, the Trojans will not enter that showdown intimidated.

Game Recap

Grayson’s offense appeared poised for a big night as Ashton Turner rushed the game’s first score, in the first quarter, and Brandon Gray followed with a 5-yard TD run in the second. Unfortunately for the Rams that would be the end of their scoring as the Trojan defense swarmed the rest of the night, pitching a shutout from that point forward.

Carrolton’s offense was sparked by a 69-yard touchdown run by Cam Wood early in the second quarter and the Trojans tied the contest with a 41-yard touchdown pass from freshman CJ Cypher, with 5:34 left in the second quarter.

The Trojans took a 24-14 lead after three quarters on a 46-yard field goal by Julian Vargas and a 10-yard touchdown run by Wood. Early in the fourth quarter, Wood added a third touchdown run from 2 yards out, and Vargas capped the scoring with another field goal.

Live Update Post

What more could you want?

Two Top 5 high school football teams in Georgia, two nationally ranked programs and two squads determined to go through the other to advance in the 2025 GHSA 6A state playoffs. It's all on the line on Friday night when Carrollton hosts Grayson.

Pre-Game Notes

Oh, did we mention that this also is a rematch of last year's 6A state championship game?

Yes, we have everything. Grayson the No. 1 team in Georgia and the No. 2 team in the nation from High School on SI was able to separate from the Trojans in last year's title game, 38-24, in the first-ever meeting between the two Peach State powers. Carrollton currently carries the No. 3 ranking in Georgia and the No. 11 ranking nationally.

Since then both teams have had to replace highly decorated quarterbacks, as Carrollton 5-star JuJu Lewis graduated and is now playing at Colorado, while Grayson 4-star Travis Burgess was lost to season-ending knee injury early in the 2025 season. Their shoes have been filled quite adequately as Deuce Smith has tossed for 2,207 yards and 24 touchdowns since taking over as the Grayson starter, while freshman C.J. Cypher and senior Mason Holtzclaw have shared the QB position for the Trojans, combining for 2,906 yards and 31 TDs.

Any talk of defense begins with the No. 1 linebacker in the country, Grayson 5-star Tyler Atkinson, a Texas commit who comes in with 553 career tackles, including 103 for loss, and 39.5 sacks. On the other side, 3-star linebacker and Georgia commit C.J. Gamble leads the way. Gamble has 75 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and five sacks this season.

The winner will take on either North Gwinnett and West Forsyth in the state semifinals on Friday, Dec. 5.

Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.

Let us know who you think will win by trying your hand at our Pick 'Em Challenge.

Live Updates

(Refresh throughout the game for live updates, scores, key plays and analysis.)

	1	2	3	4	F
Carrollton	0	14	10	10	34
Grayson	7	7	0	0	14

Grayson kicks off to Carrollton.

1st Quarter

Freshman QB CJ Cypher in the game for Carrollton!

INTERCEPTION: London Goggans interception for Grayson. Rams take the ball at their own 35.

Grayson gets picked on 4th-down play but gets new life on pass interference penalty.

Rams drive to the Carrollton 7-yard line but Carrollton's Ryan Mosley jumps up and makes terrific pick to force a turnover on downs! No score in the first quarter.

GRAYSON forces 3 and out with Eli Harris stuffing the run!

GRAYSON quarterback Deuce Smith runs wild on the option, races down to Carrollton 12-yard line!

TOUCHDOWN! Grayson RB Ashton Turner runs right tackle and over several defenders into the end zone! Rams lead Carrollton, 7-0, with 2:45 left in the first quarter!

GRAYSON defense, led by RJ Isaac and Eli Harris, forces another Carrollton punt! Rams lead 7-0 with 1:12 left in the 1Q.

HUGE PASS from Grayson QB Deuce Smith to Jonathan Stafford, who breaks a tackle and races for a big gain near midfield. Rams lead Carrollton, 7-0, end of first quarter!

2nd Quarter

Stafford makes another big catch to put Grayson inside the Carrollton 20-yard line!

TOUCHDOWN! Grayson TE George Nagbe hauls in big catch and barrels down to the 5-yard line. Two plays later, Brandon Gray smashes into the end zone to give the Rams a 14-0 lead early in the 2Q!

TOUCHDOWN! Carrollton RB Cam Wood finds a seam on 3rd-and-8 and explodes 69 yards to paydirt! Grayson leads Carrollton, 14-7, with 9:10 left in the first half.

Carrollton RB Cam Wood makes like Christian McCaffrey and rips off big 39-yard run to set up the Trojans at the Grayson 41-yard line!

TOUCHDOWN! On the very next play, Carrollton QB CJ Cypher throws a beautiful 41-yard TD pass to Peyton Zachary in the back of the end zone with 5:34 left in the first half. Carrollton is now tied with Grayson, 14-14!

CARROLLTON driving inside the Grayson 25-yard line with time running out in the 1H!

INTENTIONAL GROUNDING on Carrollton forces 4th-and-17, Trojans have to punt. 2:09 left.

Grayson WR Jonathan Stafford makes 6th catch of the night, surpasses 100 yards for the night.

CARROLLTON DL Zykie Helton makes huge sack on Grayson QB Deuce Smith and time runs out in the first half. Carrollton and Grayson all tied up at 14-14 in the first half of this Class 6A quarterfinal!

HALFTIME STATS: Grayson 70 rushing, 148 passing, 218 total yards. Carrollton 124 rushing, 79 passing, 203 total yards.

3rd Quarter

CARROLLTON defense forces punt! Trojans have been incredibly tough since the second quarter!

BIG GAIN on pass from CJ Cypher to Ryan Mosley! Trojans inside Grayson 30-yard line! Score still tied at 14-14.

FIELD GOAL! Julian Vargas booms 46-yarder to give Carrollton its first lead of the night, 17-14, against defending Class 6A state champ Grayson with 7:43 left in the 3rd quarter.

CARROLLTON defense forces another 4th down and Grayson hits poor punt, giving the Trojans a short field.

CAM WOOD rips off another nice run.

TOUCHDOWN! Cam Wood races 10 yards around left end! Carrollton takes 24-14 lead against defending Class 6A state champ Grayson with 3:43 left in 3Q.

Carrollton gets the ball back and drives across the 50, thanks to some nice passing from CJ Cypher.

CJ Cypher with nice pass to Peyton Zachary for another Carrollton 1st down!

4th Quarter

TOUCHDOWN! Cam Wood bulls in from 2 yards out for his 3rd touchdown of the night to give Carrollton a commanding 31-14 lead against defending Class 6A state champ Grayson with 7:57 left in the game! The Trojans have scored 31 unanswered points! Wood has 171 yards rushing and 3 TDs!

Carrollton TE Keaires Miller catches flea-flicker pass down to Grayson 8-yard line.

CARROLLTON 34, Grayson 14, with 3:17 left as Julian Vargas makes 23-yard field goal. Georgia's No. 1-ranked team going down to defeat.

Grayson stopped again, and hits another poor punt.

FINAL

SHOCKER! Carrollton upsets No. 1 Grayson 34-14, in Class 6A state quarterfinal.