Behind a scrappy defensive performance and a healthy-looking Julian Lewis, the Carrollton Trojans are headed back to the state football championship with a 30-17 semifinal win over Buford.

After coming out of the game last week with an apparent throwing-hand injury, Carrollton quarterback Julian Lewis’ throwing hand looked pretty healthy in the early going, tossing a 48-yard deep ball to A.J. McNeil to tie the game, 7-7, with just over four minutes left in the first quarter.

Lewis ended the night with 192 yards and two touchdowns passing.

It was a rough start for the Trojans, as they muffed Buford’s opening squib kick, allowing Buford to start with the football on the Carrollton 26-yard line.

The Trojan defense was able to force a punt with the short field, but Carrollton’s offense could do no better.

A short rolling punt stayed in Carrollton territory, and the Wolves finally took advantage with a 13-yard touchdown run by Tyriq Green to make it 7-0 before Lewis and McNeil responded.

Moving into the second quarter, several different defensive penalties on Carrollton allowed the Wolves to traverse into Trojan territory and tack on a 39-yard field goal to make it a 10-7 game.

Carrollton went hurry-up on the ensuing possession and kept the offense on the field for a fourth down and 11, but a false start forced a Trojan punt.

One play later, Buford running back Justin Baker found a wide-open hole for a 75-yard run down to the Carrollton five-yard line.

Quarterback Dayton Raiola snuck the ball across the goal line two plays later, and Buford was up two scores, 17-7.

It took just a few minutes for Carrollton to answer, as Lewis connected on another long touchdown pass, finding Payton Zachary breaking wide open for a 22-yard house call.

With under two minutes remaining in the half, it was 17-14, Buford.

Carrollton had one more possession with less than a minute to go, but that ended on sack of Lewis near midfield.

Out of the half, Carrollton looked to have forced a quick three and out, sacking Raiola deep in Wolves territory, but a facemask penalty gave Buford new life.

However, Carrollton’s defense came in clutch. Kaden Spratling forced a fumble and Zelus Hicks recovered.

Two explosive plays by Peyton Zachary and Kimauri Farmer allowed Carrollton to take the lead for the first time all night.

Zachary took a screen pass for 27 yards, and Farmer took a bobbled snap handoff on third down 47 yards to the Buford one-yard line.

Farmer punched it in one play later. After a botched extra point, Carrollton led 20-17 heading into the fourth quarter.

A missed 45-yard field goal for the Wolves kept the score there.

Lewis threw a third-down interception in the red zone, but Carrollton’s defense quickly got the ball back on a short punt.

From there, Carrollton established its biggest lead of the night with a third-down rushing touchdown for Farmer.

A fourth-down stop and a 39-yard field goal for Carlos Hernandez stretched it to a 30-17 lead.

A strip sack for Kam McClure and a recovery by C.J. Gamble was enough to seal the game at that score.

Carrollton (14-0) will now move on to face Grayson in the 6A state championship on Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.