At 12:15 a.m. on Friday, former UNC quarterback Drake Maye took to X to praise kicker Noah Burnette, writing, “Noah Burnette! Nothing new,” accompanied by a goat emoji. Maye’s post celebrated Burnette’s crucial role in the Tar Heels’ narrow 19-17 season-opening victory over Minnesota, thanks to a 45-yard field goal in the final moments.
However, Burnette didn’t have the chance to see the post right after the game, as he was busy celebrating and didn’t check his phone. If he had logged on, he would have found an outpouring of admiration for his performance.
Burnette’s efforts were pivotal, as he scored four field goals in the second half, contributing a total of 12 points for UNC. This victory marked a low-scoring game, with the Tar Heels achieving the fewest points in a win since 2012. Coach Mack Brown emphasized the significance of the win, noting that in recent years, the team struggled to win when one phase didn’t perform well, making this victory particularly important.
Notably, Burnette has been exceptional, successfully converting all 13 of his field goal attempts from 40 yards or longer, including a personal best of 52 yards during Thursday’s game. After the match, Burnette remained modest about his accomplishments.