High School

Grayson overpowers Carrollton in Georgia Class 6A state football championship game: Live updates recap

Rams run for 273 yards in 38-24 victory 

Bob Lundeberg

Grayson's Alex Sanchez.
Grayson's Alex Sanchez. / Colin Hubbard

Carrollton (14-0) and star quarterback Julian Lewis will take on Grayson (13-1) in the Class 6A state football championship game. 

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday night from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. 

Lewis, a five-star Colorado signee, leads a Carrollton offense that averages more than 46 points per game. Lewis has completed 237 of 311 passes for 3,465 yards with 46 touchdowns and five interceptions this season. 

The Trojans are looking to win their first state championship since 1998 and eighth overall. Carrollton is ranked No. 5 in High School on SI’s national high school football rankings. 

Grayson, which opened in 2000, holds an all-time football record of 240-67 with three state titles. The Rams have ripped off 13 straight wins since a 20-19 loss to Collins Hill to open the season. 

Carrollton and Grayson have never met on the football field. 

Carrollton vs. Grayson Live Updates Recap

First quarter 

Underway: Grayson begins the game with the ball at its own 20. 

Rams driving: Travis Burgess rips off a 33-yard scramble on third-and-18 to give Grayson a first down at its own 49.  

Touchdown Rams: Travis Burgess finds Alex Sanchez in the right corner of the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown. He was ruled short on the field, but after review Sanchez was awarded a touchdown. Grayson 7, Carrollton 0, 9:02 remaining in the period. 

Julian Lewis update: The five-star Colorado signee is wearing two black gloves tonight. A bit unusual to see a quarterback wear a glove on his throwing hand, particularly in a dome. 

Trojans punt: Carrollton opens with a false start and goes three-and-out. Grayson begins at its own 32. 

Field goal Rams: Grayson marches to the Carrollton 14 before the drive stalls on a Christian Kelley sack. Ricardo Martinez connects on a 37-yard field goal to put the Rams up 10-0 early. 

Touchdown Trojans: Ryan Mosley takes a quick slant from Lewis to the house for a 65-yard touchdown. Grayson 10, Carrollton 7, 5:00 left in the quarter. 

Rams punt: Grayson goes three-and-out and punts it back to Carrollton. Trojans start at the Rams 43 following a face mask penalty on the return. 

Touchdown Trojans: Carrollton takes advantage of the short field as Zion Cooley hauls in a 31-yard RPO touchdown pass from Lewis. Carrollton 14, Grayson 10, 1:18 remaining in the period. 

Rams punt: The Carrollton defense has found its footing, forcing another punt. Trojans take over at the Grayson 45 following a 21-yard Peyton Zachary return. 

End of quarter: Carrollton 14, Grayson 10. 

Second quarter 

Field goal Trojans: Carrollton adds to its lead with a 29-yard Carlos Hernandez field goal. Carrollton 17, Grayson 10, 10:17 remaining in the half. 

Rams punt: The Grayson offense has punted on three straight drives after a fast start. Carrollton will begin at the Grayson 49 following a short punt. 

Trojans punt: Julian Lewis boots a nice punt that is downed at the Grayson 7. 

Rams on the move: A 22-yard Burgess run sets Grayson up with a first-and-10 at the Carrollton 45.  

Touchdown Rams: Elijah Miller punches it in from five yards out to tie the game. Carrollton 17, Grayson 17, 3:03 remaining in the half. That was an impressive 15-play, 93-yard drive for the Rams. 

Ejection: Grayson offensive tackle Nick Brooks, a four-star Texas signee, has been ejected for kicking a Carrollton player during the PAT. That is a massive loss for the Rams. 

Trojans punt: Carrollton goes three-and-out and punts it back to the Rams. Grayson begins at its own 26 with 1:54 to go in the half. 

Trojans sack: Jabari Elder takes down Burgess for a second-down sack. 

Rams punt: Grayson punts it back to Carrollton and Peyton Zachary houses it for a 54-yard touchdown, but the big return is called back on a hold. Trojans take over at their own 40 with 1:02 left in the half. 

End of half: Carrollton 17, Grayson 17. We are set up for a classic finish tonight in Atlanta. 

Halftime

Carrollton stats: Lewis is 14 of 19 passing for 174 yards with two touchdowns. Kimauri Farmer has nine carries for 55 yards. 

Grayson stats: Burgess is 14 of 23 passing for 141 yards with a touchdown while running for 61 yards on six carries. Elijah Miller has 12 carries for 23 yards and a touchdown. Alex Sanchez has four catches for 62 yards and a TD. 

Physical Rams: Grayson controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball in the first half. Rams out-gained Carrollton 258-215 and won the time of possession battle 13:54 to 10:06. 

Third quarter

Underway: Carrollton begins the second half with the ball at its own 20. 

Three-and-out: Carrollton goes nowhere and punts it away to Grayson. First-and-10 Rams from their own 45. 

Touchdown Rams: Tomani Clanton runs it in from two yards out to put Grayson up 24-17 early in the third quarter. Elijah Miller set up the score with a 45-yard fourth-down run. 

Big play Trojans: Lewis connects with AJ McNeil for a 39-yard gain on a flea-flicker to the Grayson 4. 

Touchdown Trojans: Running back Kimauri Farmer throws a jump pass to Zion Cooley out of the wildcat formation for a four-yard touchdown. Carrollton 24, Grayson 24, 6:54 remaining in the quarter. 

Rams punt: Grayson goes three-and-out and punts it back to Carrollton. Trojans take over at midfield. 

Tyler Atkinson is a problem: Grayson’s five-star junior linebacker has been the best player on the field tonight. Atkinson is everywhere and has crazy closing speed for his size.

Missed field goal: Carlos Hernandez hits the crossbar on a 43-yard attempt, and the ball bounces back into the end zone. Grayson will start at its own 20. 

Touchdown Rams: Elijah Miller puts Grayson back in front with a three-yard rushing touchdown. The score was set up by a 33-yard Joel Bradford catch-and-run. Grayson 31, Carrollton 24, 1:58 to go in the period. 

End of quarter: Grayson 31, Carrollton 24. 

Fourth quarter

Interception: Vaughn Mitchom intercepts an underthrown Lewis deep ball at the 5 yard line. Huge defensive play in this game for Grayson. 

Rams punt: Joel Bradford gives Grayson some breathing room with a 32-yard run, but the drive stalls and the Rams punt it away. First-and-10 Carrollton from its own 24. 

Lewis update: The five-star quarterback goes over 300 yards for the day on a 17-yard connection with Peyton Zachary. Carrollton has a new set of downs from the Grayson 49. 

Injury stoppages: A lot of Grayson defenders have been cramping up tonight. The Carrollton coaching staff and fans aren’t sure about the legitimacy of these cramps.

Timeout Trojans: Facing a fourth-and-four from the Grayson 43, Carrollton takes its first timeout of the second half with 5:58 remaining. 

Interception: Vaughn Mitchom nabs his second interception of the fourth quarter and returns this one all the way to the Carrollton 34. What a night for the senior corner. 

Touchdown Rams: On fourth-and-one from the 25, Elijah Miller houses it for his third touchdown of the day. Grayson can smell it now, leading 38-24 with 3:41 remaining. 

Physical Rams: Grayson has dominated both lines of scrimmage tonight. Rams have 264 rushing yards on 47 carries. Carrollton has 46 rushing yards on 16 carries. 

Timeout Grayson: Tyler Atkinson drops Lewis for an eight-yard sack, and the Rams take a timeout on defense. Carrollton will have to convert a fourth-and-11 when play resumes. 

Trojans fumble: A false start made it fourth-and-16, and Larence Brown sacks Lewis and forces a fumble. Jaylon Williams falls on it at the Carrollton 22. It’s Lewis’ third turnover of the fourth quarter. 

Turnover on downs: The Carrollton defense holds, but only 1:10 remains. Trojans take over at their own 13, trailing 38-24. 

Final score: Grayson 38, Carrollton 24. Trojans claim the Class 6A title for their fourth state championship. 

Grayson final stats: Grayson finishes with 51 carries for 273 yards. Elijah Miller led the way with 20 carries for 109 yards and three touchdowns.

Carrollton final stats: Lewis completed 30 of 42 passes for 333 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Trojans mustered just 43 rushing yards on 20 carries, including five Grayson sacks. 

Pregame

Kickoff update: It sounds like we will be underway around 8:20 p.m. Eastern time. 

Final: Calhoun 20, Jefferson 7. Carrollton and Grayson should be underway before long in Atlanta. 

Start time update: Jefferson and Calhoun are midway through the fourth quarter.

Start time update: The Jefferson/Calhoun game is running late, so kickoff will not be at 7 p.m. Eastern time tonight. 

Carrollton players to watch: Senior quarterback Julian Lewis (Colorado signee); Junior running back Kimauri Farmer; Junior wide receiver Peyton Zachary; Senior wide receiver AJ McNeil; Junior wide receiver Ryan Mosley; Senior cornerback Shamar Arnoux (Florida State signee); Junior cornerback Dorian Barney; Senior safety Zelus Hicks (Texas signee)

Grayson players to watch: Junior quarterback Travis Burgess, Senior running back Elijah Miller; Sophomore running back Joel Bradford; Senior wide receiver Aiden Taylor; Senior wide receiver Alex Sanchez (Appalachian State signee); Senior defensive lineman Joseph Mbatchou (Florida signee); Senior edge Andre Fuller (Georgia Tech signee); Junior linebacker Tyler Atkinson; Junior linebacker Anthony Davis; Senior cornerback Jaylen Bell (Indiana signee)

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Bob Lundeberg | @sblivesports

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Bob Lundeberg
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