Minnesota suffers embarrassing technical error in stadium as staff blunder despite college football team losing

THE Minnesota Golden Gophers went out with a bang in their season-opener against North Carolina – but not in the way they had hoped.

Minnesota kicker Dragan Kesich missed a 47-yard game-winning field goal attempt as time expired at Huntington Bank Stadium on Thursday.

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But in an embarrassing blunder, fireworks were set off at the facility as the ball sailed past the uprights.

A number of college football fans had fun at Minnesota’s expense after a video of the fireworks went viral.

“Man, that’s brutal,” one fan said.

“You would think they would wait a little,” another fan noted.

“They’re just happy someone won the game. Those Minnesotans are so friendly!” a third fan joked.

It was a poor evening for Minnesota, who had star running back Darius Taylor ruled out pregame with a leg injury.

And it was even worse display for kicker Kesich, who also missed a 27-yard field goal early in the game.

Meanwhile, North Carolina showed that life after star quarterback Drake Maye looks bright.

And the Tar Heels overcame new quarterback Max Johnson being taken to hospital after he was forced out with a leg injury in the third quarter.

The son of former NFL quarterback Brad Johnson was hurt when his leg bent awkwardly while being tackled by Justin Walley.

“He was really in pain. We were just trying to pick him up,” Tar Heels head coach Mack Brown told the Associated Press .

“He was just in a little bit of shock and trying to figure it all out.”

Johnson was replaced by Conner Harrell with the Gophers leading 14-10.

Brown said he told Harrell after the injury: “You’re really, really good, – go win the game.”

And North Carolina went on to win thanks in large part to Noah Burnette’s four field goals.

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“A little jitters but the defense was playing really well,” Harrell said.

The Minnesota players did not lay any blame on Kesich for the loss.

“There’s no one play that loses you the game,” Minnesota linebacker Cody Lindenberg told AP .

“I told him right when he get off the field, ‘Hey, don’t even think about that right now. Keep your head up.’

“There’s plenty of things that could’ve gone a different way.”