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Minnesota interception sets up first touchdown of 2024

Sean Labar

By Sean Labar

Published:

The Minnesota Golden Gophers came into their season opener vs. North Carolina on Thursday as slight underdogs, despite playing at home.

With a weather delay pausing kickoff and rain pouring throughout, the first half looked a lot like a Big Ten slugfest with defense leading the way and very little when it came to explosive offensive plays for either team. With four minutes remaining in the first half, neither team had surpassed 100 yards of total offense.

North Carolina did find a bit of momentum to start the second quarter, putting together a 9-play 80-yard drive that was capped off with a Max Johnson 3-yard touchdown run. The Minnesota offense failed to bounce back on the next drive and was held to a three-and-out yet again, forced to punt the ball back to the Tar Heels.

But then the momentum swung in favor of the Gophers. With 8:36 in the second quarter, UNC QB Max Johnson attempted to connect with a receiver on a deep out route, but the ball was thrown behind the intended receiver and Minnesota DB Justin Walley picked it off.

Walley then made the most dazzling play of the night, turning an impressive interception into a wild 70-yard return, tiptoeing along the sideline before getting tackled on the UNC 6-yard-line.

On second and goal from the 5-yard-line, Minnesota scored its first touchdown of the 2024 season when Marcus Major plowed into the end zone to tie the game at 7-7.

The Gophers came out to force the Tar Heels to punt — and then the Minnesota offense rode the momentum and put together its best drive of the night — a 9-play 60-yard drive that ate up five minutes off the clock and ended in a Max Brosmer 1-yard TD run.

Minnesota leads 14-7 at halftime and has finally found its groove after a slow start.

Sean Labar