Colorado Edges Out Georgia Tech in Season Opener
ATLANTA — In a thrilling conclusion to the season opener, Colorado’s freshman quarterback Julian Lewis connected with tight end Charlie Williams for a 20-yard touchdown with just 42 seconds left, securing a dramatic 14-13 victory over Georgia Tech.
Georgia Tech appeared to be on the verge of a surprising win when quarterback Alberto Mendoza completed a 42-yard pass to receiver Dalen Penson, moving the Yellow Jackets into field goal territory. However, Boo Carter blocked Aidan Birr’s 45-yard field goal attempt, allowing the Buffaloes to celebrate on the field.
Coach Deion Sanders praised his team’s perseverance, noting that despite trailing throughout the second half, their spirits remained high.
“You’d be surprised how many linemen came up to me and said, ‘I told y’all we got this, I told you we got this coach,’” Sanders recounted. “I mean, the number of times I was shaken and encouraged by a lineman was incredible. I truly never doubted it.”
Lewis had a tough night initially, but he found his rhythm in the last two drives. He managed a 17-play, 61-yard drive that spanned 9:07 but ended in a blocked field goal by Georgia Tech’s 6-foot-9 tight end Kevin Roche Jr.
Georgia Tech then took a brief 13-7 lead with a scoring drive, but Lewis responded with a composed two-minute drill that led to the game-winning score.
“At halftime, I spoke to him in front of the team… I told (Lewis) ‘Let’s go. Be that man. We believe in you. Step up,’” Sanders said. “He embraced the challenge.”
Finishing 14-of-27 for 124 yards and a touchdown, Lewis improved his performance after a lackluster first half in which he completed six passes for 41 yards. Running back Micah Welch had previously put Colorado ahead with a 5-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter.
Georgia Tech quickly responded when Rahkeem Smith returned a kick for a 100-yard touchdown, tying the game just 14 seconds later. This marked Smith’s first touch as a Yellow Jacket and the program’s first kick return for a touchdown since Jahmyr Gibbs in 2021 against Boston College.
Mendoza completed 17-of-23 passes for 237 yards, managing to avoid an injury scare that had many worrying about his capability for the second half. He displayed promise with impressive plays, including a scramble to evade defenders and a precise 22-yard throw to Jordan Allen. Mendoza’s final drive culminated with his longest completion of the night, a 42-yarder that set up the Yellow Jackets for a field goal attempt.
He faced some challenges as well, being sacked three times for a total loss of 22 yards.
Colorado’s last season opener with a win was during Sanders’ debut in 2023, when they edged TCU 45-42, another nail-biter.
Takeaway
Colorado: After several seasons without a 1,000-yard rusher, the Buffaloes now have two promising candidates in Welch and Damian Henderson II, who shared carries effectively. Welch concluded the game with 58 yards and a touchdown on 13 attempts, while Henderson added 12 carries for 65 yards.
Georgia Tech: Despite Atlanta’s sweltering 74% humidity, fan attendance remained strong, with 51,913 filling Bobby Dodd Stadium for the third consecutive sell-out. However, the conditions played a role in contributing to ball control issues, as Georgia Tech fumbled three times in the first half, losing one.
