"Made me better everyday": Colorado signee Julian Lewis responds to Carrolton teammate's emotional message for him following State Championship loss

By Aman Sharma

Modified Dec 20, 2024 17:48 GMT

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The Grayson Rams capped off Georgia's high school football season with a dominant 38-24 victory over the Carrollton Trojans, clinching the GHSA 6A State Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 18. A fierce defensive effort in the second half saw Grayson shut down Carrollton’s explosive offense, outscoring them 21-0 in the final quarters.

After the game, Carrollton wide receiver CJ Kelley shared a heartfelt tribute to his quarterback on social media, praising Lewis’s commitment to the team despite his injury.

“Being a family means being there for each other no matter what,” Kelley wrote. “@Julianlewis10 broke his throwing hand in game 13 ... but didn’t want to let us down. Thanks, bro! #FamilyForLife.”

Julian Lewis responded with equal gratitude, writing:

“You brought it every night and made me better every day. Family for life!”

Despite the loss, Carrollton quarterback Julian Lewis, who played through a significant thumb injury during the playoffs, showcased his resilience. The Colorado commit completed 30 of 42 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns.

However, the Rams’ defense, led by standout junior linebacker Tyler Atkinson and senior cornerback Vaughn Mitchom, neutralized Carrollton’s deep passing attack. Atkinson recorded eight tackles, including three for loss, and two sacks, while Mitchom snagged two critical interceptions, one late in the fourth quarter.

Julian Lewis: A record-setting high school career culminates in Colorado commitment

Over 42 games at Carrollton High School, Julian Lewis solidified his reputation as a generational quarterback talent, amassing 11,010 passing yards and 144 touchdowns.

Deion Sanders, head coach of Colorado, praised Lewis’s upbringing and fit within Colorado’s vision.

“I think smart coaches at this level understand what has worked for them, and they try their best to replicate that,” Sanders said. "I saw a lot of similarities in the way Julian’s life has been structured, speaking to his father multitude of times, understanding how he came up, what he wants out of life, what he wants out of the game, and from the game, and what he gives to the game."

As a sophomore, Julian Lewis refined his game even further, replicating his 48-touchdown total while reducing his interceptions to just two. That year, he threw for 3,094 yards, leading the Trojans to an 11-2 record before falling in the 7A quarterfinals to Walton.

Reclassifying for his final season, Lewis showcased his growth, throwing for 3,465 yards, 46 touchdowns and only five interceptions. He also added two rushing scores as Carrollton finished 14-1 but came up short in the 6A state championship against Grayson.