First up the good news. Junior WR Dwight Jones was named ACC offensive back of the week joining QB T.J. Yates as the Heels' 2nd winner of that award this season:
OFFENSIVE BACK – Dwight Jones, North Carolina, WR, Jr., 6-5, 210, Burlington, N.C. (Cummings/Hargrave M.A.) Jones had seven receptions for 198 yards and two touchdowns (all career highs) in Carolina’s 44-10 victory at Virginia. It was the Tar Heels’ first win at UVA since 1981. Jones, who had 119 receiving yards in the first quarter, had touchdown catches of 81 and 20 yards. He also had a 54-yard reception to the 1-yard line, which led to another TD. The previous high for a Tar Heel receiver in 114 prior meetings against Virginia was Sam Aiken’s 179 yards in 2002. Carolina scored on its first play from scrimmage when Yates connected with Jones on an 81-yard touchdown strike. Jones’ 198 yards receiving rank as the fifth-highest single-game total in school history.
The 81- yard TD reception on the first play from scrimmage set the tone early. UNC ended 29 years of frustration at UVa as Jones joined Jhay Boyd in the "offensive explosion from a random wide receiver" club. After two years of wondering about Jones, it was nice to see him come to life. Knowing UNC has two receivers capable of 200-yard games will be extremely helpful going forward because....
Senior TE Zach Pianalto has officially been declared lost for the regular season due to a fractured fibia. Not a real surprise since the fracture was known on Saturday and it is probably one of those 4-6 weeks kind of recoveries. UNC has about that much time left in the regular season which means Pianalto might be available for the bowl game. On a weird note Pianalto has scored three TDs in his career at UNC and been injured in each of those games. Had he actually caught one of those two passes at the end of the LSU game one of his ACLs would have likely exploded.
Pianalto led the Heels in receptions and receiving yards, primarily because UNC's offense as constituted relies heavily on short, quick passes. Pianalto was a favorite target of Yates and a player that had to be accounted for by the opposing defense. Hopefully Ed Barham can fill the void but losing Pianalto will definitely require John Shoop to make some adjustments to the offense.