2 weeks Ago
The Minnesota Gophers football team’s season-opener started an hour late due to storms and the offense looks like it started an hour later. Fortunately, the unit was able to find a little rhythm late in the first half to take a 14-7 lead into the locker room at halftime over North Carolina on Thursday night. Without top running back Darius Taylor, who is missing the opener due to injury, and new quarterback Max Brosmer, the offense struggled mightily early on.
Related: Gophers RB Darius Taylor out vs. North Carolina due to injury The team went three-and-out in each of its first two possessions. Then, the Gophers seemed to find a groove, putting together a 13-play, 52-yard drive that stalled inside the Tar Heels’ 10 yard line.
However, reigning Big Ten Kicker of the Year Dragan Kesich doinked the field goal attempt off the upright, keeping it a 0-0- game. The following possession, North Carolina, which also struggled offensively early, put together a nine-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to take a 7-0 lead. Again, the Gophers offense could do nothing, going backwards on its next possession, another three-and-out.
But as we’ve seen in past seasons, the defense jumpstarted the offense. Senior defensive back Justin Walley promptly intercepted Tar Heels quarterback Max Johnson and returned it 70 yards to the North Carolina 6 yard line. Two plays later, Marcus Major, bowled his way into the endzone to get Minnesota on the board and even the score at 7.
PICKED OFF 🤯 Justin Walley with the B1G play for @GopherFootball !!️ #B1GFootball on @CFBONFOX 📺 pic.twitter.com/rpR8LtULLg The Gophers’ defense immediately forced another three-and-out, giving the ball back to Brosmer and Major, who went 65 yards in nine plays, again finding the endzone to make it 14-7 Gophers, this time on a Brosmer sneak.
Despite the terribly slow start for the offense, Major and Brosmer had an OK first half in their Minnesota debuts. Brosmer is 6-of-10 for 53 yards with no scores or giveaways. Major carried 15 times for 73 yards and a touchdown, averaging just shy of 5 yards per carry.
On the other side, the defense started creating more pressure late, with Jah Joyner, Danny Striggow, Anthony Smith and Jai’Onte’ McMillan all getting pressure, recording 2 sacks. Minnesota held the Tar Heels to just 28 passing yards, their fewest in a half since Sept. 13, 2019, against Wake Forest, when they managed just 22.
To close it out, the Gophers need to get Brosmer and wide receiver Daniel Jackson — who had just one catch for 20 yards in the first half — going and keep feeding Major. © Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.
