Minnesota and North Carolina played an entertaining back-and-forth opener to begin their seasons in Week 1 on Thursday night. UNC started the scoring with a touchdown, but the Golden Gophers answered back with two runs into the end zone to take the lead back. The Tar Heels took the lead back after three made field goals only to see Minnesota answer with a touchdown. With 1:44 left in regulation, North Carolina’s Noah Burnette hit his fourth field goal of the night to give the Heels a two-point lead.
Minnesota promptly drove down the field to set up a chance at a game-winning 47-yard field goal. The kick missed, and North Carolina beat Minnesota, 19-17.
There was only one problem: the person running the pyrotechnics for Minnesota must have thought the field goal went in, because fireworks were shot off as the buzzer sounded and the field goal missed. This would have been a great celebration after a win, but it feels totally bizarre after a loss. Watch the video here:
Here’s a look at the missed field goal. College kickers are back in our lives, and honestly it feels great.
Minnesota lost its last four regular season games of last season after a promising start. Unfortunately, it feels like the Golden Gophers are picking up where they left off.
The big story for North Carolina was a scary leg injury for new starting QB Max Johnson, son of former NFL QB Brad Johnson, who inherits the job from Patriots draft pick Drake Maye. Johnson was taken to the hospital after the game.
