Haynes King rushed for a go-ahead 45-yard touchdown with 1:07 left, propelling Georgia Tech to a 27-20 victory over Colorado on Friday in both teams’ season opener at Boulder, Colo.

King, who lost two fumbles and threw an interception in the first quarter, completed 13 of 20 passes for 143 yards and ran for 156 yards and three scores on 19 carries.

Georgia Tech, which won the first all-time meeting between the schools, outgained Colorado 463-305 in total yards.

Kaidon Salter completed 17 of 28 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown for Colorado, while Micah Welch led the Buffaloes with 64 rushing yards on 11 attempts.

After trailing 13-10 at halftime, Colorado evened the score on Alejandro Mata’s 29-yard field goal with six minutes left in the third.

Georgia Tech answered with an 11-play, 75-yard drive that was finished with King’s 17-yard rushing score to give the Yellow Jackets a 20-13 lead entering the fourth.

Colorado finally found its offensive rhythm on the ensuing drive, tying the game with a 15-play possession, capped by Salter’s 7-yard rush with 8:25 remaining.

After King’s go-ahead score, Salter’s 50-yard Hail Mary attempt fell incomplete in the end zone as time expired.

King’s botched handoff resulted in a Georgia Tech fumble on the Yellow Jackets’ second play from scrimmage, turning the ball over to the Buffaloes just 20 seconds in.

Welch’s 16-yard rush to Georgia Tech’s 16-yard line was followed three plays later by Salter’s 8-yard touchdown pass to DeKalon Taylor, giving Colorado a 7-0 lead at the 12:08 mark of the first quarter.

Georgia Tech’s next drive ended the same way, as King couldn’t hold onto a high snap, which was recovered by Colorado’s Martavius French at Colorado’s 48-yard line.

After a three-and-out, King committed his third turnover of the first quarter, as the sixth-year senior was picked off by DJ McKinney at the Buffaloes’ 45-yard line.

Following Colorado’s punt, Georgia Tech pieced together a 13-play, 84-yard drive that resulted in Aidan Birr’s 32-yard field goal, cutting the Yellow Jackets’ deficit to 7-3 with 13:31 left in the first half.

Colorado’s third consecutive punt was followed by Georgia Tech’s 80-yard scoring drive, stamped with King’s four-yard rushing score with 4:33 remaining.

Colorado knotted the score at the 1:39 mark as Mata drilled a 42-yard field goal. Georgia Tech answered with Birr’s 43-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Yellow Jackets a 13-10 halftime lead.

–Field Level Media