Julian Lewis gave Colorado the lead. Boo Carter made it stand.
In a frantic finish Thursday night at Bobby Dodd Stadium, the Buffaloes escaped with a 14-13 victory over Georgia Tech after Carter blocked a potential game-winning 45-yard field goal on the final play.
For Lewis, standing on the field afterward, the explanation started with belief.
“Trust each other, we work for it, we know what’s gonna happen, and God did it for us,” Lewis said during his postgame interview.
That trust faced its biggest test when Georgia Tech took a 13-7 lead with fewer than two minutes remaining. Colorado’s offense had struggled to finish drives, and the Buffs suddenly needed a touchdown to keep their opener from slipping away.
Lewis delivered, leading Colorado down the field and connecting with Charlie Williams for a 20-yard touchdown. The ensuing extra point put the Buffs ahead with 37 seconds remaining.
But Georgia Tech still had time to answer.
Alberto Mendoza immediately found Dalen Penson for a 42-yard completion, moving the Yellow Jackets from their own 25 to Colorado’s 33. Just seconds after celebrating their go-ahead touchdown, the Buffs and Coach Prime were staring at the possibility of a crushing loss.
With three seconds remaining, Georgia Tech lined up for the kick.
Carter blocked it.
On a night when the Yellow Jackets had blocked a Colorado field goal earlier, the Buffs returned the favor at the most consequential moment possible.
The dramatic finish gave Deion Sanders a season-opening road victory and Lewis a memorable night back in Georgia.
“God did a great thing for us, and I’m just blessed right now,” Lewis said.
His final numbers reflected how difficult the night had been before that decisive drive. Lewis completed 14 of 27 passes for 124 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. Williams finished with two catches for 28 yards, including the score Colorado had to have.
The Buffs leaned on their running game throughout the night. Damian Henderson carried 12 times for 65 yards, while Micah Welch added 58 yards and a touchdown on 13 attempts. DeAndre Moore Jr. led Colorado with four receptions for 37 yards.
Defensively, Lamont Lester Jr. supplied three sacks, helping keep the Buffs within reach while their offense searched for a breakthrough.
Mendoza completed 17 of 23 passes for 237 yards. Jordan Allen caught eight passes for 113 yards, while Penson added three receptions for 73 yards. Justice Haynes managed 64 yards on 19 carries.
Colorado left Atlanta with plenty to correct, but its biggest plays arrived when there was almost no time left to make them.
Lewis found Williams. Carter denied Georgia Tech. A sloppy game with an amazing finish.
And the Buffs headed home 1-0.
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