Georgia Tech to Buffs: "CU Later"

Game One of Georgia Tech's 2025 season is in the books, and it brought a"W". Tech is 1-0.

It wasn't pretty. But Brent Key and his boys aren't chasing beauty. They want wins. And so there was joy in the mood of the Jackets post-game. The emphasis was on resilience and resolve in finding a way to prevail in a game in which they were largely their own biggest challenge.

With all the optimism and prep work and outright confidence in Tech circles preceding the kickoff of 2025, no one could have expected the first three possessions to end with turnovers. But that's exactly what happened--two fumbles and an interception on tbe year's first three possessions.

Colorado was able to produce only seven points from that bounty, testimony to a Tech team's defensive effort that mostly thwarted Buffalo QB Kaidon Salter in his debut in Boulder.

Salter performed capably, but he faced a high bar– namely the locals' recall of the play of one Shedeur Sanders over the paat two years in Boulder. For the day , Salter was 17 of 28, for 159 yards and one touchdown. That touchdown pass came on the Buffalo's first possession following the first Tech turnover, a fumble from a botched exchange between Haynes King and Jamal Haynes on the second play from scrimmage for the Jackets.

Salter promptly took his team 37 yards for the game's first score, on which he moved rightward out of the pocket and tossed an 8 yard pass to RB DeKalon Taylor.

The Jackets proceeded to turn the ball over on each of their next two possessions, the first on a fumble by King as he tried to rein in a bad snap by C Harrison Moore., The second turnover came on an interception thrown by King on a ball intended for Bailey Stockton, who was clearly held up on his route- literally--one of several mysterious no- calls on this night.

However, the Buffs went three and out on both those occasions and when Tech got the back back, they mounted their first scoring drive of the season, covering 84 yards in 13 plays to set up a 32 yard field goal by Aidan Birr.

Tech's next possession produced a touchdown drive, covering 80 yards in 10 plays. Haynes King slithered and then slammed it in from four yards out to give Tech it's first lead.

Colorado answered with a field goal to tie it, but King finished the first half with a masterful drive to set Birr up for another field goal, this one from 43 yards out as time expired.

Haynes King would later explain the success of the late first- half drive with aplomb.

"The way we did it was very smoothly and ...even down to the last second", explained Tech' senior QB . " So we kick it, there's no more time. We don't have to kick it off", said King.

Tech took that 3 -point lead into halftime. The three- turnover gift they gave the Buffs to start the game on had been officially negated.

Following that rough start, they had dominated their hosts for the next 25 minutes. For the half, Tech held the ball for 19 minutes, amassing 279 total yards , 182 of which came on the ground.

First - year Tech DC Blake Gideon's troops held CU to only five first downs on 119 total first half yards. Given those three turnovers, Tech's defense did a laudable job.

The two teams exchanged punts early in the third quarter before Colorado drove the ball deep enough to allow a 39 yard field goal to tie it up.

Again the Jackets answered, this time with an 11 play, 75 yard drive, ending in a 17- yard TD run by Haynes King.

To respond, Colorado generated their best drive of the night, covering 75 yards to tie it back up on a seven yard run by Kaidon Salter. The tone of the drive brought to mind pregame concerns regarding playing at altitude .

It was here that the strength of Tech's veteran QB showed through. In an unfriendly environment, in a tie game with his team playing well- above a mile above sea level, , King again rallied his troops to mount a scoring drive.

And this one he finished himself, with a deceptive- then- daring 45 yard dash through the Colorado secondary to re- establish Tech's seven point lead. On the play, King weaved into the second level, before bolting quickly to the right and then easily leaving Colorado defenders in his wake.

With 1:07 left to play, Aidan Birr again drilled the kickoff into the endzone, leaving Deions boys only 67 seconds to cover 75 yards for a tie.

What happened next puzzled all onlookers. Deion Sanders elected to hang on to both his remaining timeouts, as his team got off only five plays, ending the game with a Hail Mary pass from midfield. It fell harmlessly to the turf after a tip by WR Isiah Canion.

With that, Key and his troops celebrated the win. There was much to like, as well as much to work in the coming days.

Georgia Tech opens at home against Gardner Webb at 3:30 pm on Saturday September 6.

Patrick Conarro

RamblinSports

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