Omarion Hampton rushed 30 times for 129 yards, Noah Burnette made all four of his field-goal attempts and North Carolina escaped with a 19-17 win over Minnesota on Thursday night in Minneapolis.
Max Johnson passed for 71 yards and rushed for a touchdown for North Carolina (1-0) before he was carted off with a right leg injury. Burnette did all of his scoring in the second half, including the go-ahead kick from 45 yards out with 1:44 to play.
Marcus Major had 20 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown for Minnesota (0-1). The Golden Gophers had a chance for a game-winning kick as time expired, but Dragan Kesich hooked a 47-yard attempt wide right.
Minnesota quarterback Max Brosmer completed 13 of 21 passes for 166 yards in his team debut. He transferred from New Hampshire during the offseason.
North Carolina opened the scoring with 11:12 remaining in the second quarter. On third-and-goal, Johnson dropped back to pass, tucked the ball and ran for a 3-yard touchdown that culminated with a headfirst dive.
Minnesota pulled even at 7-7 with 7:35 to go in the second quarter. Major sprinted up the middle for a 5-yard touchdown.
The Golden Gophers’ defense set up the score. Cornerback Justin Walley returned an interception 70 yards to the North Carolina 6-yard line.
Brosmer made it 14-7 with 55 seconds left in the half. Tight end Nick Kallerup lined up behind Brosmer and gave him a friendly shove across the goal line for a 1-yard touchdown run.
North Carolina cut the deficit to 14-10 on a 29-yard field goal by Burnette with 6:34 left in the third quarter.
Burnette struck again, this time from 52 yards, to pull the Tar Heels within 14-13 with 19 seconds left in the third quarter.
The Tar Heels capitalized on a fumble by Brosmer to grab a 16-14 lead with 9:05 remaining in the fourth quarter. Burnette made a 42-yard field goal.
The Golden Gophers regained a 17-16 lead on a 30-yard field goal by Kesich with 3:40 to go.
Minnesota running back Darius Taylor did not play because of an injury that he sustained during training camp.
