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09/03 23:11 CDT Colorado QB Julian Lewis leads touchdown drive with 42 seconds
left in 14-13 win over Georgia Tech
Colorado QB Julian Lewis leads touchdown drive with 42 seconds left in 14-13
win over Georgia Tech
By MAURA CAREY
AP Sports Writer
ATLANTA (AP) --- Colorado freshman quarterback Julian Lewis hit tight end
Charlie Williams for a 20-yard touchdown with 42 seconds remaining in the
fourth quarter, lifting the Buffaloes to a last-minute, 14-13 win against
Georgia Tech on Thursday night in a season opener.
Georgia Tech looked like it could pull off the improbable when quarterback
Alberto Mendoza found receiver Dalen Penson for a 42-yard gain, putting the
Yellow Jackets in field goal range. But Boo Carter blocked Aidan Birr's 45-yard
attempt, and the Buffaloes stormed the field.
A tough night for Lewis came together in the final two drives. The freshman
quarterback took 9:07 off the clock with a 17-play, 61-yard drive that ended
with a blocked field goal from 6-foot-9 Georgia Tech tight end Kevin Roche Jr.
Georgia Tech responded with a field goal scoring drive to take a 13-7 lead, but
with newfound confidence, Lewis led a clutch two-minute drill for the win.
Lewis finished the night 14-of-27 for 124 yards and a touchdown. Running back
Micah Welch put the Buffaloes on the board with a 5-yard rushing touchdown in
the second quarter, giving Colorado a short-lived 7-0 lead.
Georgia Tech responded 14 seconds later as Rahkeem Smith returned a kick 100
yards for a touchdown and tied the game. It was Smith's first touch as a Yellow
Jacket and the program's first kick returned for a touchdown since Jahmyr Gibbs
against Boston College in 2021.
Mendoza finished the night 17-of-23 for 237 yards and dodged an injury scare
that onlookers feared could affect his second half availability.
Takeaway Colorado: After seven seasons without a 1,000 yard rusher, Colorado has two strong prospects with Welch and Damian Henderson II splitting snaps in the backfield. Welch finished the night with 58 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Henderson had 12 carries for 65 yards. Georgia Tech: Atlanta's 74% humidity didn't impact fan attendance, with 51,913 fans packed in Bobby Dodd Stadium's third consecutive sell-out. The humidity helped contribute to ball control issues for Georgia Tech who fumbled three times in the first half, losing one.
Up next Colorado hosts Weber State on Sept. 12. Georgia Tech hosts No. 20 Tennessee on Sept. 12. __ Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP's full college football coverage here
Takeaway Colorado: After seven seasons without a 1,000 yard rusher, Colorado has two strong prospects with Welch and Damian Henderson II splitting snaps in the backfield. Welch finished the night with 58 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Henderson had 12 carries for 65 yards. Georgia Tech: Atlanta's 74% humidity didn't impact fan attendance, with 51,913 fans packed in Bobby Dodd Stadium's third consecutive sell-out. The humidity helped contribute to ball control issues for Georgia Tech who fumbled three times in the first half, losing one.
Up next Colorado hosts Weber State on Sept. 12. Georgia Tech hosts No. 20 Tennessee on Sept. 12. __ Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP's full college football coverage here
