Everything Deion Sanders said after Colorado's win over Georgia Tech

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

The Colorado Buffaloes opened their season with a wild 14-13 win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Thursday night in Atlanta.

Freshman quarterback Julian Lewis threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Williams with 37 seconds remaining to give Colorado its first lead of the fourth quarter. Georgia Tech reached field-goal range on its final possession, but Boo Carter blocked Aidan Birr's potential game-winning kick as time expired.

The Buffaloes ran for 183 yards while holding Georgia Tech to 51 rushing yards. Damian Henderson led Colorado's ground attack with 65 rushing yards, Micah Welch added 58 yards and a touchdown, and JaQuail Smith finished with 42 yards. Lewis completed 14 of 27 passes for 124 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.

After a game filled with special teams miscues, defensive stops and a late touchdown drive, here's everything head coach Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders said after Colorado's season-opening win.

Opening statement

Deion Sanders: "We’re resilient. We talked about, I told them there was going to be adversity, tremendous adversity, but we wanted to implement the adversity, not be the recipients of the adversity. But we were resilient. We didn’t give up."

"Just how it all played out in the end. I mean, a couple special team blunders, but then we come out strong on special teams to make it happen. So, it don’t wash it. We still are not satisfied with that. But I’m happy overall with the victory."

"We didn't have many flights back home in victory or any [happy] flights back home, but this is going to be a wonderful flight knowing that we don’t think we get back to four or five in the morning, but we don't have anything to do tomorrow. So, I’m really pleased."

On Colorado's running game

Sanders: "We rushed for a buck 83? My God," Sanders exclaimed. "They rushed for 51? I thought we were small."

“You talk about another team that's also a physical team. To go out there and do this, when you’re talking about the run and we're a small team — don’t know where that came from — but I’m certainly happy with the results."

Colorado's rushing attack carried the offense through several difficult moments. Henderson's 65 yards came on 12 carries, while Welch found the end zone on one of his 13 carries. Smith's 42 yards gave the Buffaloes a third productive running back.

The ground game also helped keep pressure off Lewis as he worked through an uneven night in just his third career start.

"When the passing game isn't working, you have to go with what you know," Sanders said. "Now we’re growing as we mature."

On Julian Lewis' late-game response

Sanders: "He didn't shrink in that moment; he stood up and did his thing."

Lewis struggled at times before the closing minutes, but he delivered when Colorado needed a drive to take the lead. The freshman found Williams for a 20-yard touchdown with 37 seconds left, putting the Buffaloes ahead 14-13.

Williams finished with two receptions for 28 yards and the decisive touchdown. DeAndre Moore Jr. led Colorado with four catches for 37 yards.

Sanders said Lewis handled a halftime challenge in the right way.

"Respectful and intuitive and understanding, and understands the moment," Sanders said.

"I addressed Julian Lewis in front of the whole team at halftime and challenged him. The thing that is so good about football and life, if you maximize and dominate that moment, you'll forget about what happened for three, almost four quarters."

Sanders said he was relieved Lewis got the chance to finish the comeback.

"I'm glad Julian Lewis came alive because the media would’ve ate him alive," Sanders said.

On Brennan Marion and offensive preparation

Sanders: "The things that Brennan Marion says when he's getting the play in, and the situational type of football that we’re practicing, and getting him prepared for the moment, it was real, and we knew he would succeed."

Colorado offensive coordinator Brennan Marion helped guide the late possession that set up Lewis' touchdown pass to Williams, highlighted by a perfect halfback draw play call to convert a third down. Sanders credited the coaching staff for its communication throughout the game.

"There was no yelling on the headset," Sanders said. "They were solid all the way through."

On Boo Carter's blocked field goal

Sanders: "I love that kid. I know what he's been through as a young man. I love who he is, what he is, how he is and I want him to continue to be Boo."

Carter made the game-saving play when he broke through Georgia Tech's field-goal protection and blocked Birr's 45-yard attempt as time expired.

The defensive back recorded two tackles, recovered the loose ball and returned it eight yards after the block. His effort gave Colorado a dramatic road victory and prevented Georgia Tech from answering Lewis' go-ahead touchdown.

"Nobody flinched," Sanders said. "Several of my linemen grabbed me and told me, ‘Coach, we got this.’"

"I don’t rank moments," Sanders said. "I try to turn them into monuments."

On Colorado's defense

Sanders: "When you look at the statistics, you gotta get on the plane happy."

Colorado gave up 237 passing yards to Georgia Tech quarterback Alberto Mendoza, but the Buffaloes controlled the Yellow Jackets' run game. Georgia Tech had 29 rushing attempts for 51 yards, with Mendoza losing 22 yards on three sacks.

Lamont Lester Jr. posted three sacks, three tackles for loss and five tackles. Gideon Lampron and Randon Fontenette each had seven tackles, while Liona Lefau also recorded seven.

Sanders said defensive coordinator Chris Marve's work extended beyond the scheme.

"The defense showed a lot about DC Chris Marve, not just from an intelligence standpoint, but also in how he connects with the players," Sanders said.

On Micah Welch

Sanders: "Micah Welch wasn’t having any transfer portal talk this offseason, and that’s why he was able to flourish."

Welch ran for 58 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. His score gave Colorado an early lead, and his physical style helped the Buffaloes stay on schedule throughout the night.

Henderson, Welch and Smith each gained at least 40 rushing yards. Colorado's three-back production was a major part of the 183-yard rushing output.

"We know what he has," Sanders said. "20 [DeKalon Taylor] and 29."

On special teams issues

Sanders: "Made some mistakes on special teams. It’s effort."

Colorado missed its only field-goal attempt and allowed several special teams lapses during the game, most notably the 100-yard kickoff return. Sanders said the Buffaloes regularly review personnel in those units and must improve the effort.

The final result still belonged to Carter, whose block gave Colorado the last word.

Sanders: "I don't shake a shadow. We know what we doing here."

Follow James Carnes on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Everything Deion Sanders said after Colorado's win over Georgia Tech

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos