In the scrub-brush desert town of Queen Creek, Ariz., high school bullies were throwing trash at sophomore Chy Johnson. Calling her "stupid." Pushing her in the halls.

Chy's brain works at only a third-grade level because of a genetic birth defect, but she knew enough to feel hate.

Her mother wanted justice, so she called the captain of the football team, who knew Chy.

But Carson Jones didn't want to punish the bullies. He thought it would cause more trouble than it would fix. He did one better. He took her under his wing, invited her to the "cool kids" lunch table, had teammates walk her to classes, and suddenly things began to change.

(WATCH the video below, and READ the inspiring story w/ photos at ESPN)