'We're good, coach': Conner Harrell replaces injured Max Johnson in win at Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS — When head coach Mack Brown said he wanted to play two quarterbacks on Thursday, these probably weren't the circumstances he had in mind. 

With three minutes remaining in the third quarter, graduate quarterback Max Johnson — this week's chosen starter — was blitzed by Minnesota's Justin Walley. 

Johnson's body hit the ground. He clutched his leg, wincing in pain. This time, he didn't get up. Not until members of the football staff hoisted him off the turf and helped him onto the back of a cart. 

Enter sophomore Conner Harrell. 

In UNC's season opener, North Carolina scraped by Minnesota, 19-17, on Thursday evening at Huntington Bank Stadium, thanks to Harrell's final drive that set up graduate place-kicker Noah Burnette's 45-yard game-winning field goal. 

“We looked at [Johnson],” senior linebacker Power Echols said. “We said, ‘We got you. We're going to win this for you.’”

After a months-long quarterback battle during the offseason for the starting position, Johnson was the quarterback to take the field for the first drive. 

Last Friday, Brown said at a press conference he would like to play both quarterbacks, depending on the in-game situation. 

But someone has to start, and it wasn't a clean beginning for Johnson.

In the first half, he completed four of 10 pass attempts for 28 yards — the fewest in a first half by the Tar Heels since 2019. He was sacked twice and almost fumbled near the Minnesota end zone before the mistake was overturned by a penalty. With just over eight minutes left in the second quarter, a pass intended for senior tight end Bryson Nesbit was picked, returned for 70 yards and converted into an eventual touchdown.

But, in the opening minutes of the second half, Johnson found his groove. He recorded more yards in the first drive than the entire first half. Charging downfield, he connected with more and more targets. He looked more confident and appeared to settle into a rhythm. 

And then, he went down.

The transfer from Texas A&M had to be transported off the field following the bad landing, leaving Brown no choice. Harrell stepped into Johnson's place. 

The team announced on Friday that Johnson broke his leg and will miss the remainder of the 2024 season. 

“Thank goodness Conner was ready,” Brown said. 

With his starting signal caller injured, Brown frantically searched for Harrell in the sea of North Carolina players, only to find him already warming up. Even though he was told last week he wouldn't get the starting job, Harrell never pouted. On the sideline, he stayed loose and always offered feedback when Johnson asked what the sophomore was seeing on the field. 

Before Harrell joined the huddle on the field in the third quarter, Brown reminded him of his talent. That he was ready for this moment. 

Harrell's reply was simple: “We're good, coach.”  

With North Carolina down by one point in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, Harrell ran left toward the UNC sideline to escape a rushing Minnesota defender. 

He hooked a deep throw over the outstretched arms of a Golden Gopher, right into the awaiting hands of graduate wide receiver J.J. Jones for a 32-yard completion. A timely first down. 

He pushed the Tar Heels closer to the end zone, providing the perfect setup for a game-winning kick. 

“[I] just play confidently,” Harrell said. “I've worked for it. I know what to do. I know the guys have confidence in me, so I just go in there and play.”

With Johnson out, Brown said third-string graduate quarterback Jacolby Criswell is now a factor in the game against Charlotte. 

Even through week one, the quarterback battle isn't over, yet. Maybe it never will be.

@carolinewills03

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