Georgia Tech Rallies Late To Beat Colorado 27-20/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Haynes King led Georgia Tech to a thrilling 27-20 win over Colorado with a 45-yard touchdown run in the final minutes. Despite early turnovers, the Yellow Jackets dominated on the ground, rushing for 320 yards. Deion Sanders’ Buffaloes showed promise but couldn’t close the deal in their season opener.
Georgia Tech vs. Colorado Quick Looks
- Haynes King rushed for 156 yards and 3 touchdowns.
- Georgia Tech ran for 320 total rushing yards.
- King scored the winning 45-yard TD with 1:07 left.
- Colorado failed to use timeouts during final drive.
- Buffaloes’ final Hail Mary attempt was knocked down.
- Kaidon Salter led Colorado with 159 passing yards.
- Game marked first-ever meeting between the two programs.
- Rain created slippery conditions at Folsom Field.
- Colorado honored late coach Bill McCartney with jersey patch.
- Georgia Tech earned first Mountain time zone win since 1978.
Deep Look
Georgia Tech Overcomes Early Mistakes to Defeat Colorado 27-20 in Season Opener
BOULDER, Colo. — In a game that saw early chaos and late heroics, Haynes King put Georgia Tech on his back and delivered a clutch 45-yard touchdown run with just 1:07 remaining, lifting the Yellow Jackets to a hard-fought 27-20 win over Colorado in their season opener Friday night.
King’s decisive scamper capped a five-play, go-ahead drive in which he carried the ball four times. The quarterback finished the night with 156 rushing yards, three touchdowns, and 143 passing yards, becoming the heart of Georgia Tech’s offense in a rain-soaked battle at Folsom Field.
“They called my number. I did my job. I followed my blockers,” said King. “The rest is history.”
Deion Sanders’ Team Falls Short Despite Opportunities
Despite having two timeouts left, Colorado didn’t stop the clock on their final drive. The Buffaloes reached midfield before attempting a last-second Hail Mary, which was batted away in the end zone to seal the loss.
“We could’ve won the game,” said Colorado head coach Deion Sanders. “It’s not like we got our butts kicked. They just ran the heck out of the ball.”
Sanders lamented missed opportunities as Georgia Tech outgained Colorado 463-305, including a 320-yard rushing attack that overwhelmed the Buffaloes’ defense.
Turnovers Plague Georgia Tech Early
Georgia Tech’s start was anything but smooth. The Yellow Jackets committed two fumbles and an interception in their first three possessions — nearly matching their 10 total turnovers from all of last season. Still, they stayed composed, thanks largely to King’s leadership and poise.
“A lot of things we have to clean up,” admitted Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key. “The difference was our ability to run the football.”
Salter Shines in Debut but Comes Up Short
Kaidon Salter, a transfer from Liberty, made a solid debut for Colorado. He threw for 159 yards and a touchdown and added 43 yards rushing along with a key 7-yard TD run that tied the game late. The tying extra point by Alejandro Mata was partially blocked but still cleared the crossbar.
Freshman quarterback Julian “JuJu” Lewis, one of Colorado’s top recruits, did not see playing time.
“We ain’t got time to jell,” said Sanders after the loss. “We’ve got to go right now.”
The Buffaloes are in a rebuilding phase after the loss of stars like Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter to the NFL. Shedeur, now with the Cleveland Browns, posted on social media:
“They’ll figure things out. They have a great head coach.”
Game Notes & Highlights
- First Meeting Since 1990 Tie Legacy: Though this was the first game between Colorado and Georgia Tech, the programs are linked by their 1990 national championship split, each claiming a share of the title.
- Historic Road Win for Georgia Tech: This marks Georgia Tech’s first regular-season win in the Mountain time zone since beating Air Force in 1978.
- Rain-Slicked Field Creates Issues: A heavy downpour before kickoff made for slippery conditions and a slick new turf surface at Folsom Field. Colorado linebacker Martavius French recovered two early fumbles.
- Sideline Bathroom for Coach Prime: In a rare sideline addition, Colorado installed a private bathroom tent for Deion Sanders, who was diagnosed with bladder cancer earlier this year.
- Tribute to Coach Mac: Colorado players wore jersey patches honoring Bill McCartney, the legendary coach who led the program to a share of the 1990 national title and passed away in January at age 84.
- Missing Mascot: Ralphie VI, Colorado’s live buffalo mascot, officially retired earlier in the week and was absent from the field.
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