CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. — The first one could have been a fluke. The second one took some skill. And the third one …
Well, the third one he was ruled down short of the goal line. But junior wide receiver Dwight Jones’ career night against Virginia helped North Carolina put the game out of reach early with his 188 yards on six catches and two touchdowns in the first half.
Jones would finish the game with 198 yards on seven catches to lead all receivers, finally posting a big game for the first time as a Tar Heel.
“Everybody knew he’s had that kind of talent and we’ve just been waiting for him to have that breakout game and he’s definitely had it,” quarterback T.J. Yates said. “Now we’ve got multiple receivers on this team that put up those 200-yard games.”
On the first play from scrimmage, Yates found Jones on an underneath route. He broke a tackle on the left sideline and then used a key block downfield to get into the end zone from 81 yards for his second touchdown of the season.
With 1:17 left in the first quarter, Yates connected yet again with Jones for a score. This time, Jones had to slide to the ground to come up with the catch, which was reviewed before being tacked onto the scoreboard. The 20-yard connection put UNC up 17-3.
Jones’ final big haul of the game came in the second quarter when Yates passed to Jones for a 55-yard touchdown. At least, that’s what the refs originally called. Upon further review, Jones was dragged down at the one-and-a-half yard line, denying him his third score of the half.
“I was just in the zone,” Jones said. “I don’t know if I was down at the one or not, I was just trying to score.”
Before this season, Jones averaged 10.5 yards on 2.5 catches per year, paltry numbers for a wide receiver who was ranked in the top-five nationally at his position in high school. He spent a year at Hargrave Military Academy before coming to UNC, where he played in three games his freshman year but recorded no receptions.
