Colorado Stuns Georgia Tech With Last-Second Comeback and Blocked Field Goal.
- Dante
- 13 hours ago
- 3 min read
Colorado opened the 2026 season with a dramatic 14-13 victory over Georgia Tech on Thursday night, overcoming a late deficit before making the biggest defensive play of the game in the final seconds. Freshman quarterback Julian Lewis delivered when the Buffaloes needed him most, connecting with tight end Charlie Williams for a 20-yard touchdown with 37 seconds remaining to put Colorado ahead. Georgia Tech still had an opportunity to steal the game. Quarterback Alberto Mendoza quickly moved the Yellow Jackets into Colorado territory, finding wide receiver Dalen Penson for a 42-yard completion that put Georgia Tech within field-goal range. Georgia Tech kicker Aidan Birr then lined up for a 45-yard attempt that would have given the Yellow Jackets the victory. Instead, Colorado defensive back Boo Carter broke through and blocked the kick, sending the Buffaloes onto the field to celebrate the comeback win. "I never flinched, man," Colorado head coach Deion Sanders said. "I told several people on the sideline, we're gonna make it very, very interesting, but we're gonna win this game." The finish gave Colorado its first season-opening victory by blocking a field goal as time expired since Northern Illinois accomplished the same feat against Georgia Tech in 2021. Lewis endured an inconsistent night statistically but made his most important plays late. He finished 14-of-27 passing for 124 yards and a touchdown. Colorado's offense struggled for much of the evening, but Lewis helped put together a crucial 17-play, 61-yard drive that took 9:07 off the clock. The possession ultimately ended without points after Georgia Tech's 6-foot-9 tight end Kevin Roche Jr. blocked a Colorado field-goal attempt.
Georgia Tech responded with a scoring drive and took a 13-7 lead, leaving Colorado with limited time to mount a comeback. Lewis answered with a clutch two-minute drill, eventually finding Williams for the go-ahead touchdown. Sanders said he challenged Lewis in front of the team at halftime and encouraged the freshman quarterback to trust himself. "I told the whole team, 'Let's go. You're that man. We believe in you. Let's go,'" Sanders said. "And you know, I challenged him in front of the whole team. And he went and did his thing." Running back Micah Welch scored Colorado's first touchdown of the season on a 5-yard run in the second quarter, briefly giving the Buffaloes a 7-0 advantage. Georgia Tech responded just 14 seconds later when Rahkeem Smith returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. It was Smith's first touch for the Yellow Jackets and Georgia Tech's first kickoff return for a touchdown since Jahmyr Gibbs did it against Boston College in 2021. Mendoza kept Georgia Tech's offense moving throughout the game, completing 17 of 23 passes for 237 yards. He also avoided an injury scare that had raised concerns about whether he would be able to return for the second half. He ultimately helped Georgia Tech reach a position to win the game, but Colorado's defense delivered the decisive play. Carter's blocked field goal preserved the 14-13 victory and gave Colorado an unforgettable start to the season. For the Buffaloes, it was a comeback built on resilience, a freshman quarterback finding his moment and a defense that came through when the game was on the line.
