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The Gophers football team began its 2024 season with bad news as star
running back Darius Taylor was ruled out pregame, along with starting
safety Darius Green. With costly penalties, two missed field goals and a plethora of mistakes, the Gophers fell to North Carolina 19-17 Thursday
night in front of an announced crowd of 50,805 at Huntington Bank Stadium
in Minneapolis.

Preseason All-American kicker Dragan Kesich missed a 27-yard field goal
early and his 47-yarder at the buzzer sailed wide right to give the
visiting Tar Heels the nonconference win.

Minnesota's new transfer quarterback Max Brosmer looked nervous in his
first FBS football game. He began the night 3-of-7 passing for 26 yards
through his first three drives. Right when it looked like he led the
offense down the field for a field goal, Kesich banged a 27-yard attempt
off the right upright.

North Carolina took advantage and put together a 90-yard touchdown drive, taking a 7-0 lead.

Things continued to look like a struggle for Minnesota's offense, but
veteran cornerback Justin Walley reeled in an interception midway through
the second quarter and put together a highlight return, setting them up in
the red zone. Oklahoma transfer Marcus Major found the end zone on a 5-
yard carry, and Minnesota evened things at 7-7.

Brosmer and the Gophers (0-1) ended the first half with their most
successful drive, going 65 yards on nine plays, highlighted by a 20-yard
Daniel Jackson reception. Brosmer's quarterback sneak touchdown gave
Minnesota a 14-7 lead going into the half.

North Carolina dominated the third quarter, holding the ball for over 13 minutes. Despite a costly penalty, Minnesota's defense held firm at the
goal line and forced a pair of field goals, narrowing its lead to 14-13.
The Tar Heels (1-0) went into the fourth quarter without starting
quarterback Max Johnson, who was carted off with an injury, but an early Brosmer fumble set up a third field goal from Noah Burnette to give UNC a
16-14 lead with just over nine minutes to play.

Right when it looked like Brosmer and the Gophers offense had nothing
left, Le'Meke Brockington hauled in a 22-yard reception only to fumble
before a lucky bounce put the ball right into the hands of Major, who
carried it for 16 more yards. That set up a 30-yard field goal by Kesich
for a 17-16 lead, but UNC answered with another field goal to go ahead 19-
17 with under two minutes to go.

After a night of bad passes and mistakes, Brosmer and the offense finally
moved the ball, going all the way down the field only to have Kesich pull
his 47-yard attempt wide right.

Brosmer finished 13 of 21 for 166 yards and a fumble.

Major had 73 rushing yards on 20 carries, but only two yards in the second half.

Jackson led Minnesota receivers with four catches for 55 yards.

The worst is yet to come.

https://www.si.com/college/minnesota/gophers-football/gophers-offense- looks-lost-in-season-opening-loss-to-north-carolina-01j6ahxv715c

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