Julian Lewis Rallies Colorado Past Georgia Tech in 14-13 Thriller/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Freshman quarterback Julian Lewis threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Williams with 42 seconds remaining as Colorado defeated Georgia Tech 14-13. Georgia Tech moved back into scoring range, but Boo Carter blocked Aidan Birr’s potential game-winning 45-yard field goal. The victory gave the Buffaloes their first season-opening win since Deion Sanders’ Colorado debut in 2023.
Quick Look
- Colorado defeated Georgia Tech 14-13 in Atlanta.
- Julian Lewis threw the winning touchdown with 42 seconds left.
- Charlie Williams scored on the 20-yard reception.
- Boo Carter blocked Georgia Tech’s final field-goal attempt.
- Lewis completed 14 of 27 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown.
- Alberto Mendoza went 17 of 23 for 237 yards.
- Micah Welch scored Colorado’s first touchdown.
- Rahkeem Smith returned a kickoff 100 yards for Georgia Tech.
- Colorado rushed for 123 yards through Welch and Damian Henderson II.
- The game drew 51,913 fans to sold-out Bobby Dodd Stadium.
- Colorado next hosts Weber State.
- Georgia Tech next hosts No. 20 Tennessee.
Deep Look
Lewis Delivers Last-Minute Touchdown
Freshman quarterback Julian Lewis led Colorado on a decisive fourth-quarter drive, connecting with tight end Charlie Williams for a 20-yard touchdown that lifted the Buffaloes to a 14-13 victory over Georgia Tech.
The winning score came with 42 seconds remaining in Thursday night’s season opener at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Colorado had trailed throughout the second half before Lewis directed an eight-play, 75-yard possession to erase a 13-7 deficit.
Carter Blocks Georgia Tech’s Final Attempt
Georgia Tech immediately threatened to reclaim the lead.
Quarterback Alberto Mendoza found receiver Dalen Penson for a 42-yard completion, moving the Yellow Jackets into field-goal range. Georgia Tech advanced to the Colorado 27 before sending Aidan Birr onto the field for a potential game-winning 45-yard kick.
Boo Carter broke through from the left side and blocked the attempt, securing the one-point victory as the Buffaloes rushed onto the field to celebrate.
Sanders Says Colorado Never Lost Belief
Coach Deion Sanders said the Buffaloes remained confident despite trailing for most of the second half.
“If you’d know how many linemen grabbed me and said ‘I told y’all we got this, I told you we got this coach,’” Sanders said. “I mean you have no idea how many times I was shaken by a lineman and told that we got this, and I never doubted it.”
The victory marked Colorado’s first successful season opener since 2023, when the Buffaloes defeated TCU 45-42 in Sanders’ debut.
Difficult Night Turns Around for Lewis
Lewis struggled during much of his first start but found his rhythm during Colorado’s final two possessions.
The freshman completed only six passes for 41 yards in the first half. He finished 14 of 27 for 124 yards and one touchdown.
Lewis first led a 17-play, 61-yard drive that consumed 9:07. The possession ended without points when 6-foot-9 Georgia Tech tight end Kevin Roche Jr. blocked Colorado’s field-goal attempt.
Georgia Tech answered with a field goal to increase its lead to 13-7, but the lengthy possession appeared to give Lewis greater confidence before the final two-minute drive.
“I talked to him at halftime in front of the whole team… I told (Lewis) ‘Let’s go. Be that man. We believe in you. Let’s go.’ You know, I challenged him in front of the whole team,” Sanders said. “He took advantage of the moment.”
Teams Trade Early Touchdowns
Colorado scored first when running back Micah Welch reached the end zone on a 5-yard run during the second quarter.
The lead lasted only 14 seconds.
On Georgia Tech’s ensuing possession, Rahkeem Smith returned the kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. It was Smith’s first touch as a Yellow Jacket and the program’s first kickoff return for a score since Jahmyr Gibbs accomplished the feat against Boston College in 2021.
Mendoza Shows Promise in Georgia Tech Debut
Mendoza completed 17 of 23 passes for 237 yards during his Georgia Tech debut.
He briefly caused concern after an apparent injury, but he remained in the game and delivered several impressive throws. In the second quarter, Mendoza escaped pressure and completed a 22-yard pass to Jordan Allen while moving outside the pocket.
His 42-yard completion to Penson on Georgia Tech’s final drive was his longest of the night and gave the Yellow Jackets a chance to win.
Colorado’s defense sacked Mendoza three times for a combined loss of 22 yards.
Colorado Finds Strength in Running Game
Colorado entered the season after going seven consecutive years without producing a 1,000-yard rusher, but its opener offered encouraging signs from two running backs.
Welch carried 13 times for 58 yards and a touchdown. Damian Henderson II added 65 yards on 12 attempts.
Their shared workload provided balance for an offense that struggled to generate consistent production through the air.
Turnovers Trouble Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech had difficulty controlling the ball in Atlanta’s 74% humidity, fumbling three times during the first half and losing one of them.
The Yellow Jackets also struggled to turn promising drives into touchdowns, settling for field goals and leaving Colorado close enough to mount its late comeback.
A crowd of 51,913 filled Bobby Dodd Stadium for its third consecutive sellout.
Up Next
Colorado will host Weber State on Sept. 12 for its home opener.
Georgia Tech will remain at home to face No. 20 Tennessee on Sept. 12.
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