It wasn’t supposed to go this way. The Gophers brought in Max Brosmer from New Hampshire to resuscitate their stagnant passing game. They have an experienced offensive line returning. And their offense features one of the top running backs in the nation. And yet…
Non-exorcised demons resurfaced in the Gophers’ 19-17 loss to North Carolina in front of a home crowd at Huntington Bank Stadium. A poorly coordinated passing attack, late defensive breakdowns, and a costly late-game fumble sent the Gophers to a 0-1 record. Sound familiar?
Early Struggles
The Gophers started slowly out of the gate in the first quarter. They were reeling partially because super sophomore running back Darius Taylor was scratched from the game due to a leg injury suffered at practice. Minnesota went three and out on their first two possessions. But then the special teams’ unit created a scoring opportunity.
A Mark Crawford punt pinned the Tar Heels near their goal line which would lead to great field position for the Gophers as they mounted their first drive of the day. A Jordan Nubin reception and a pass interference penalty on North Carolina would move the Gophers deep into Tar Heel territory. The drive stalled and Dragan Kesich came in to kick a 27-yard field goal for Minnesota. Uncharacteristically, one of the nation’s top kickers pushed it right and the game remained scoreless.
Gophers Take the Lead
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North Carolina would light up the scoreboard first in the second quarter. After a 9 play, 80-yard drive, quarterback Max Johnson would run it in from three yards out to give the Tar Heels s a 7-0 lead. But the Gophers would strike back with two touchdowns of their own before halftime.
First, after a Justin Walley, 70-yard interception return, Oklahoma transfer Marcus Majors would take it in from five yards to knot the game. Then on the next series, a Daniel Jackson 20-yard reception and a 19-run from Majors would drive Minnesota inside the five-yard line. Brosmer would sneak it in from there to give the Gopher a 14-7 halftime lead.
Tar Heels Claw Back
But the third quarter was a disaster for Minnesota. The Gophers two drives in the quarter netted minus one yard. Meanwhile, North Carolina put together two extended drives that each culminated in a Noah Burnette field goal (including a 52-yarder), and the quarter ended with the Gophers lead shrunk to one.
And North Carolina would strike first in the closing quarter. After a Brosmer fumble gave the Tar Heels possession at the Minnesota 22, Burnette would connect again, this time from 42-yards out to put North Carolina in front 16-14.
Gophers on the Rebound
The Gophers regained the ball with just over nine minutes left in the game and they proceeded to march down the field. Brosmer first hit Jackson with a 2o -yard reception through a tight window. Then in what was almost a disaster for Minnesota, Brosmer hit Le’Meke Brockington for a 22-yard reception which he proceeded to fumble.
Fortunately, Majors was there to scoop the ball up and run it 16 yards down to the North Carolina 10-yard line. Once again, the drive stalled, but Kesich stepped in and drilled a 30-yard field goal with just over five minutes left in the game to give the Gophers a 17-16 lead.
Disastrous Finish
But the Gophers couldn’t hold the lead. Connor Harrell, in for an injured Johnson, led the Tar Heels on a six play, 48-yard drive that was highlighted by a J.J. Jones 32-yard reception. Once again, Burnette was called upon to punctuate a drive which he did with a 45-yard field goal that put the Tar Heels up 19-17 with just under two minutes left on the clock.
On the Gophers next series, a pass interreference call on North Carolina and receptions by Jackson and Elijah Spencer moved the Gophers into field goal range. Inexplicitly, Kesich again pushed a ball to the right missing a 47-yard field goal as the game clock expired.
Aftermath
Gophers coach P.J Fleck spoke after the game saying, “I told our team at the very end, this is a team loss, period. This isn’t lost by one person, this isn’t lost by one play, we had a lot of opportunities on offense, defense and special teams, just like they did. There’s going to be a lot of plays that North Carolina want back, we want back, this is where you grow the most.”
Of note, Gophers’ linebacker Cody Lindenberg was all over the field recording 11 total tackles. Next on the docket for the Gophers is a home game against a very beatable Rhode Island Rams team next Saturday in a must win situation.
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