UNC Football Moments After – UNC vs. Minnesota 19-17 Win

UNC Tar Heels Football Team Holds Off Minnesota to Win Their Season Opener on the Road

by Derrick Clyburn

The North Carolina football team has entered into a new era without a top-rank stud quarterback at the helm. No more Sam Howell or Drake Maye to shoulder the load on the offensive end. Mack Brown and his staff have tried to figure out who would be the best option to start the first game since spring practice. Max Johnson got the nod and struggled mightily in the first half. He didn’t look confident and was very unsure of how to execute. The UNC offense sputtered in the passing game and had to ride Omarion Hampton just to get down the field. Max Johnson did score a touchdown on an unorthodox run and dive for the goal line to put the Tar Heels up early 7-0.

Minnesota struggled on offense as well. They missed a field goal early in the first half but got an energy boost and momentum change from Justin Walley who had a 70-yard interception return that set up a score to give the Gophers a 14-7 halftime lead. The North Carolina defense played solid for most of the first half but stayed on the field too long and began to wear down which allowed some missed tackles and blown assignments.

In the second half, the Tar Heels came out with more urgency and tempo on offense and drove down the field to score a field goal. Max Johnson looked like a more confident quarterback in that series completing passes to multiple receivers and commanding the offense. The North Carolina offense moved the ball down the field on a 70-yard drive which led to that field goal. The defense then gave the ball back to the offense with an impressive three-and-out series. On the next offensive series, Max Johnson was hurried in the pocket and threw the ball down the field while being tackled, and the defensive player landed on the outside of Johnson’s knee which caused it to bend the wrong way. Max was lost for the remainder of the game.

Conner Harrell entered the game to replace Max Johnson. He would lead the Tar Heels down the field on two drives riding the back of Omarion Hampton to put North Carolina in position to score two field goals to take the lead over the Gophers 16-14. The Tar Heels’ defense dominated the second half with a couple of there-and-outs playing physically and harassing the Gopher’s quarterback. They had two sacks one each by Jahvaree Ritzie and Amare Campbell. Amare Campbell also had a forced fumble that helped to change the game.

The Minnesota Gophers would not give in to the momentum change by the Tar Heels. They began opening up their passing game and moved the ball down into UNC territory helped by a pass interference call on defensive back Marcus Allen. The Gophers hit a field goal to take the lead back at 17-16 with 3 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter. Conner Harrell led the offense down the field on a 55-yard drive to set up the would-be game-winning field goal by Noah Burnette who hit his fourth of the night to take the lead back at 19-17.

However, North Carolina left 1 minute and 40 seconds on the clock. The Gophers would drive the ball down the field to the Tar Heels 30-yard line and attempt a 47-yard field that would miss wide right. North Carolina would escape Minnesota with a 19-17 win.

UNC Game Stats 

UNC Total Offense- 252 yards 

Rushing 147 Passing 105 

UNC Passing: Max Johnson 12-19-17 yards 1INT, Conner Harrell 2-4-34 yards 

UNC Rushing: Omarion Hampton 30-129 yards, Drake Maye 6-10 yards 1TD 

UNC Receiving: JJ Jones 3-52 yards, Omarion Hampton 5-17 yards, Bryson Nesbit 2-15 yards  

Minn Total Offense- 244 yards 

Minn Passing: Max Brosmer 13-21-166 yards

Minn Rushing: Marcus Major 20-73 yards 1TD, Max Brosmer 9-(-6) yards 1TD 

Minn Receiving: Daniel Jackson 4-55 yards, Elijah Spencer 2-26 yards 

UNC Bright Spots 

Omarion Hampton had 30 carries for 129 yards and 5 catches for 17 yards. 

Jahvaree Ritzie had 3 sacks.  

Noah Burnette had 4 field goals. 

Needs Work 

The Tar Heels Offensive Coordinator and his staff must work on an effective passing scheme that will not make the offense so predictable. Conner Harrell is more of a running quarterback so they need to cater to his strengths. They need to spread the ball to the tight ends, receivers and backs more efficiently.

Mack Brown must instill confidence into Conner Harrell so that he can free in his gift as a quarterback.

The Defensive Coordinator needs to work with the defensive backs and how they need to react turning their heads while playing the ball in the air.

Final Observations 

The Tar Heels are 1-0 on the season. It was an ugly offensive game for both teams but North Carolina got the win. Mack Brown and the staff have to help the quarterbacks and the passing game continue to evolve so that the offense doesn’t become so one-dimensional. The defense looks to be a better group. They just need to clean up some minor things with the DBs with breaking on the ball and turning their heads to see the ball when it is in the air.

This year’s football team still has the unknown of how the offense will function and produce outside of Omarion Hampton. They have talent at the tight end and receiving positions. They just have to utilize them more. Next up is Charlotte on Saturday, September 7 at 3:30 P.M. on ACCN.