ATLANTA — Freshman quarterback Julian Lewis engineered a last‑minute drive and threw a 20‑yard touchdown pass to tight end Charlie Williams with 42 seconds remaining Thursday night, lifting Colorado to a 14‑13 season‑opening victory over Georgia Tech.
Clutch finish after a rocky night
Lewis, who went 14‑of‑27 for 124 yards and one touchdown, struggled at times but completed the game’s decisive series when it mattered most. Colorado’s winning drive capped a tense final sequence that saw both teams threaten to decide the game in the closing seconds.
Georgia Tech had a chance to win after quarterback Alberto Mendoza connected on a 42‑yard pass to move the Yellow Jackets into field‑goal range late. But Colorado safety Boo Carter sprinted off the edge and got a hand on Aidan Birr’s 45‑yard attempt, preserving the one‑point margin and sending the Buffaloes storming off the field.
How the game unfolded
The scoring opened in the second quarter when Colorado running back Micah Welch powered in a 5‑yard rushing touchdown to give the Buffaloes an early 7‑0 lead. Georgia Tech answered immediately on special teams when Rahkeem Smith returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown — his first touch as a Yellow Jacket — tying the game and turning momentum back to the home side.
Mendoza completed 17‑of‑23 passes for 237 yards and avoided what appeared to be a potential injury scare that had fans worried during the first half. Georgia Tech also had a pivotal defensive play earlier when their 6‑foot‑9 tight end, Kevin Roche Jr., blocked a Colorado field‑goal attempt late in a lengthy Colorado possession.
One of the defining stretches of the game came when Lewis and the Colorado offense went on a 17‑play, 61‑yard drive that consumed 9:07 of clock late in the third quarter and into the fourth. That drive ended when Roche blocked Colorado’s attempt, swinging possession and momentum back to the Yellow Jackets.
Final drive and decisive plays
Trailing 13‑7 with less than two minutes remaining, Colorado faced a daunting task with no timeouts. The Buffaloes executed a composed two‑minute drill, moving the ball downfield in a short, efficient series. Lewis finished the job by finding Williams for the 20‑yard score that put Colorado ahead with less than a minute to play.
Georgia Tech’s subsequent 42‑yard pass to set up Birr’s final kick nearly produced a dramatic comeback, but Carter’s block ended the threat. The sequence underscored how special teams and late‑game execution were decisive for both teams.
- Final score: Colorado 14, Georgia Tech 13
- Colorado QB: Julian Lewis, 14‑of‑27, 124 yards, 1 TD
- Georgia Tech QB: Alberto Mendoza, 17‑of‑23, 237 yards
- Notable plays: Micah Welch 5‑yard TD run; Rahkeem Smith 100‑yard kickoff return TD; blocked field goals by Kevin Roche Jr. and Boo Carter
| Stat | Colorado | Georgia Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 14 | 13 |
| Quarterback (comp‑att) | Julian Lewis (14‑27) | Alberto Mendoza (17‑23) |
| Passing yards | 124 | 237 |
What it means for Colorado
The Buffaloes’ narrow win is an encouraging start for a program seeking momentum. A freshman quarterback producing in the clutch can energize a roster and fan base, though the game also highlighted areas for improvement, including field‑goal protection and consistency on offense earlier in the evening.
Special teams swung the contest multiple times — on Smith’s return, Roche’s block and Carter’s game‑ending block — underscoring that games between closely matched teams often turn on a few critical plays. Colorado’s ability to close out the game after a long, clock‑eating drive will be a point of focus for coaches and supporters as the season progresses.
Next steps for the Buffaloes include cleaning up the miscues that nearly cost them the opener and building on the late‑game execution that produced the victory. For Lewis, the experience of leading a game‑winning drive as a freshman provides a valuable confidence boost heading into conference play.
Colorado leaves Atlanta with a one‑point win, a highlight‑reel finish and fresh questions to address during its next practice week.
