On Thursday, August 29, 2024, at Huntington Bank Stadium, during the first half of the University of North Carolina game against University of Minnesota, North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Max Johnson (14), gets ready to toss the ball.
Minneapolis, Minnesota Max Johnson, a graduate signal-caller, went down in the third quarter but did not get back up.
His right knee was clutched. He winced. If not for the Minnesota holding penalty, the SEC transfer would have been fired three times, and this was one too many times.
In no time, Johnson was wheeled off the field. He was succeeded by Conner Harrell, a sophomore quarterback. However, UNC’s offensive coordinator didn’t alter.
In no time, Johnson was wheeled off the field. He was succeeded by Conner Harrell, a sophomore quarterback. However, UNC’s offensive coordinator didn’t alter.
In its season opener on Thursday night at Huntington Bank Stadium, North Carolina (1-0) defeated Minnesota (0-1) 19-17 thanks to four field goals from Noah Burnette in the second half. For the first time since 2018, UNC played without Sam Howell or Drake Maye, and Burnette let the Tar Heels narrowly prevail in a wild contest.
Senior linebacker Power Echols remarked, “Every time he went up there, I was just thinking, ‘He does this every day in practice,'” before going on to say, “Noah just goes up there and knocks it through like it’s nothing.”
With field goals of forty yards or longer, Burnette is now 13 for 13. The graduate student even went farther, hitting a career-long 52-yard field goal.
Burnette had to give the Tar Heels all on Thursday.
After two quarters, Johnson’s passing yardage was just 28 yards, which was the fewest for North Carolina in a first-half since 2019. The quarterback dilemma facing the Tar Heels has now spiraled even further due to his injury.
The nature of Johnson’s injury was not yet made clear by UNC Football at the time of publication.
On Thursday, August 29, 2024, at Huntington Bank Stadium, during the first half of the University of North Carolina game against University of Minnesota, quarterback Max Johnson (14) of the North Carolina Tar Heels gets sacked in a play that is later called back. UNC prevailed 19–17.
Head coach Mack Brown stated, “I thought he was coming into his own and getting his confidence in the third quarter when he got hurt.” We’re unsure of the extent of his injuries. We’ll wait while he and his folks visit the hospital. Undoubtedly, he is in our minds and in our prayers.
Following several months of anticipation, Johnson—a transfer from Texas A&M and LSU—became North Carolina’s starting signal-caller. Early in the second quarter, a quarterback keeper gave the Tar Heels a 7-0 lead.
On the opening play of the ensuing drive, he nearly scored a pick-six. Justin Walley, a defensive back for Minnesota, caught the deep ball that Johnson intended for senior tight end Bryson Nesbit.
The Golden Gopher took off, ducked under the sideline, and went seventy yards into the Tar Heels. Shortly after, Marcus Major, a running back from Minnesota who graduated, ran up the middle to tie the score at 7-7.
In less than three minutes, Minnesota scored another touchdown. The transfer from New Hampshire, quarterback Max Brosmer, led the Golden Gophers down the field in nine plays, capping it off with a touchdown reception of his own to put Minnesota ahead 14–7 at the half.
The fourth quarter was much more uninteresting.
At 14-10, Burnette’s 29-yard field goal reduced North Carolina’s lead to four points. UNC pulled within one at the conclusion of the quarter on a 52-yard field goal by Burnette, his longest of his career. Burnette then made his third field goal of the game in the fourth quarter to give the Tar Heels a two-point lead.
Speaking on his 52-yard field goal, Burnette remarked, “A lot of people have questioned my distance and my range.” “Having finished that one felt good.”
Minnesota responded with a field goal of their own to take the lead again on the ensuing drive. Burnette responded once more, this time from 45 yards out, putting UNC ahead 19–17.
On Thursday, August 29, 2024, at Huntington Bank Stadium, defensive back Ty White (0) and running back Omarion Hampton (28) of the North Carolina Tar Heels celebrate a 19-17 victory over the University of Minneapolis.
In the final seconds of the game, the Golden Gophers got another opportunity for a field goal, this time from 47 yards out. The ball made a sharp right turn. As their triumph in the season opener was confirmed, the Tar Heels ran onto the field.
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