UNC football rides Noah Burnette’s leg to a season-opening win over Minnesota
North Carolina and Minnesota had to wait an hour longer than expected to kick off the 2024 football season.
But after the worst of the bad weather passed in Minneapolis, the ACC vs Big 10 matchup finally was under way and the Tar Heels took a 19-17 victory Thursday — in the end, a well-worth-the-wait result for UNC despite an injury to quarterback Max Johnson.
Here are three takeaways from the game:
Heels found way to win
“It’s all about winning,” UNC coach Mack Brown said after the game. “We did a lot of good things for an opening game. So many opening games are ugly. You lose them more than you win them.
“We didn’t lose the game tonight. We hung in there and we fought.”
The game was not decided until the final snap. Minnesota’s Dragan Kesich could not convert a 47-yard field goal attempt that would have made it a walkoff win for the Gophers, missing wide right.
Kesich’s miss made Noah Burnette’s make from 45 yards, with 1:44 left, the winning kick for the Tar Heels.
Burnette had two field goals in the third quarter, the second a career-long 52-yarder that pulled the Tar Heels within 14-13..
Harrell was ready when needed
Johnson started at quarterback for UNC and Conner Harrell also played for the Tar Heels, as Brown said they might, although not as expected or planned. Johnson, the transfer from Texas A&M, was injured late in the third quarter after a pass -- the QB hit by a blitzing Justin Walley -- and was carted off the field as Harrell took over at QB.
Harrell’s 32-yard completion to J.J. Jones with 2:50 left in regulation, Harrell moving to his left on a run/pass option, got the ball to the Minnesota 30.
“That’s a game-winning play,” Brown said of Harrell’s decision to pass. “That’s who he is, what he can do.”
Burnette’s 45-yard field goal lifted the Tar Heels into the 19-17 lead. It was his fourth of the game, including a career-best 52-yarder in the third quarter.
The Tar Heels, stymied offensively much of the first half, dominated the third, running 27 plays to Minnesota’s 4 — UNC had 109 yards and kept the ball for more than 13 minutes in the quarter.
Brown, on UNC’s postgame radio show, said Johnson was transported to a local hospital but had no other information on his injury. Johnson scored the Tar Heels’ first touchdown of the season on a short QB keeper early in the second quarter.
Johnson had one interception — a big play for Minnesota. Walley, a senior cornerback, ripped off a 70-yard return to the UNC 6, setting up Marcus Major for a TD run to tie the score.
Major started at running back for the Gophers as standout sophomore Darius Taylor was unable to play because of a leg injury. Minnesota’s defense keyed on UNC’s Omarion Hampton., but the junior running back broke tackles and pounded out 129 yards on 30 carries.
“We ran the ball well but we didn’t run it consistent, but Omarion’s really good and we’ll get better,” Brown said.
Big fourth quarter for UNC
Trailing 16-14 in the fourth quarter, the Gophers took advantage of a fortunate bounce to take the lead on Kesich’s 30-yard field goal with 3:40 left.
Quarterback Max Brosmer passed to Lemeke Brockington for 22 yards, but UNC’s Stick Lane raced up to knock the ball loose. But Major grabbed it and went another 16 yards to the UNC 10.
But the Heels responded. Harrell, under pressure, found Jones on a short sideline route that Jones turned into the 32-yard completion. Minnesota stopped Harrell on a third-down run, bringing in Burnette.
Brosmer, playing his first game for Minnesota after transferring from New Hampshire, fumbled with 11:33 left in the fourth quarter as linebacker Amare Campbell punched the ball free.
Harrell then fumbled on third down at the Minnesota 22, but guard Willie Lampkin came up with the ball. Burnette came on for a 42-yarder to push the Heels into the lead.
“We can get better on offense,” Brown said. “But to play that good on defense in an opening ball game, and to play that well on special teams ... offense sells tickets and people love offense and when the offenses don’t look as good people says it’s an ugly game. Defensive coaches love ugly games.”
This story was originally published August 29, 2024 at 5:19 PM.
