MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — North Carolina’s main goal for this unfinished season is to keep its star player of the past two years, quarterback Drake Maye, from getting into trouble.

This finish in the season opener against Minnesota was a good first step.

Noah Burnette made four field goals, three of which were after Quarterback Max Johnson was taken to the hospital with a leg injurya decisive performance highlighted by the Tar Heels’ go-ahead 45-yarder with 1:44 left in a 19-17 victory over the Gophers on Thursday night.

“We’ve talked about doing everything we can to build their confidence, build their dedication, build their discipline,” coach Mack Brown said. “I’m just proud of the change in all of these guys.”

Dragan Kesich, whose 30-yarder with 3:40 left gave the Gophers the lead, missed his chance to win as time expired when a 47-yard try went wide to the right. He also missed a 27-yarder earlier.

“There’s no play that’s going to lose you the game. I told him right away when he came off the field, ‘Hey, don’t think about that right now. Keep your head up,'” Minnesota linebacker Cody Lindenberg said. “There’s a lot of things that could have gone differently.”

Preseason All-American Omarion Hampton rushed 30 times for 129 yards and Jahvaree Ritzie had three sacks for the Tar Heels, who bounced back from an hour-long thunderstorm delay, a rough first half and a disheartening third-quarter injury to their new quarterback in the first game of the post-Maye era.

Conner Harrell, who was beaten out for the job in a close game, replaced Johnson and threw a key 32-yard pass to JJ Jones, setting up Burnette’s winning goal.

“A little nervous,” Harrell said, “but the defense played really well.”

North Carolina managed just 252 yards on 64 plays, which is hardly a masterpiece.

“That’s what it was when you’re a defensive coach, and when you’re a special teams coach,” Brown said with a laugh.

The front seven swarmed Gophers quarterback Max Brosmer for five sacks, and linebacker Amare Campbell — playing in oversized coverage on a broken right hand — forced a fumble on a first-down run by Brosmer at the Minnesota 22 early in the fourth quarter, setting up Burnette’s first of two go-ahead kicks. Kaimon Rucker had two tackles for loss and a pass breakup. Tom Maginness averaged 51 yards on threes, including one that was downed at the 2.

With Darius Taylor sitting outside Marcus Major, who transferred from Oklahoma and was nursing a leg injury, rushed for 73 yards and scored a touchdown in his first game for the Gophers.

Justin Walley had an interception that returned the ball 70 yards, setting up Major’s score and giving the Gophers a 14-7 lead at halftime. The Gophers had a golden opportunity to go much bigger.

Za’Quan Bryan threw an interception at the North Carolina 16-yard line when Jones fell and the ball landed right in the cornerback’s arms. Kesich’s short kick bounced off the right post. Then, Johnson’s fumble at his own 10-yard line was recovered by Minnesota before a holding penalty on Aidan Gousby negated the turnover. The Tar Heels went on an 80-yard touchdown drive.

Bryan’s holding penalty later gave the Tar Heels a first down on the incomplete ball that injured Johnson, and they went on to go for a field goal.

The takeaway meal

North Carolina: The Tar Heels clearly have confidence in Harrell, who started in last season’s bowl game after Maye declared for the draft.

“You’re really, really good,” Brown told Harrell after the injury. “Go win the game.”

Minnesota: Brosmer had a rushing touchdown and went 13-for-21 passing for 166 yards in an uneven debut. The Gophers will need more accuracy from the sixth-year transfer from New Hampshire if they want to find the offensive balance they’ve lacked for several seasons.

“I wish things would have gone a little better for everybody,” coach P.J. Fleck said, “but I saw a lot of things I’ve seen for a long time. He’s a really good kid, a really good quarterback.”

Next

North Carolina: Hosts Charlotte on Sept. 7. The Tar Heels have never played the 49ers, who are in their 10th season in the FBS.

Minnesota: Hosts Rhode Island on Sept. 7, the second of four straight home games for the Gophers to start the season.

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