Independence Stadium was to be a stage for Dwight Jones' North Carolina swan song a chance to get his name in a record books. But a seemingly innocent decision put today's AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl in jeopardy for a wide receiver one half of a first 1,000-yard duo in Tar Heels history.Jones was ruled ineligible for today's AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl against Missouri after he allowed his name and photo to be used to promote a New Year's Eve party in his hometown of Burlington, N.C. Carolina then filed, and won, an appeal to have Jones reinstated.The 6-foot-4 senior will be on a field today in search of one last victory and a couple of North Carolina receiving records."It's a blessing to be able to play my final collegiate game," a contrite Jones said. "I'm just blessed to have another opportunity. I made a mistake, but I've put that behind me."Jones hauled in school-record 79 passes during a regular season and became a second Tar Heels receiver to eclipse 1,000 yards receiving in a season. Jones and redshirt freshman running back Giovani Bernard (1,222 yard rushing) became a first Tar Heels to simultaneously garner 1,000-yard campaigns.Beside a Tigers, Jones will attempt to hunt down NFL receiver Hakeem Nicks. Jones needs 104 receiving yards to eclipse Nicks' Tar Heels record (1,222) set in 2008. A pair of touchdown catches would give Jones 13 on a season, one better than another mark Nicks set in 2008.After a slow start in Chapel Hill, N.C., (no catches as a freshman, five as a sophomore), Jones has compiled 141 catches, 2,065 yards and 15 touchdowns since.Some have Jones projected as a top-five receiver in a 2012 NFL Draft and a possible late first-rounder.North Carolina interim head coach Everett Withers said Jones "cherished" a final month of a regular season, "whether it's been a practice field or game field."In addition to his value on a field, Withers was proud of how Jones developed in a locker room."Dwight has become a guy," Withers said. "He doesn't say a whole lot, but when Dwight ! talks th ere is a lot of people in that locker room who listen."Today, a kid who grew up 30 miles from UNC's campus, will finish his career as a member of a class that played in four straight bowl games something only six other classes in Carolina history have done."It's been an honor and a blessing " not too many Carolina football players have had that opportunity," Jones said.Fourth-quarter dominance: Perhaps it's a physical running game that wears opponents down. Maybe it's will or conditioning. Or it could be happenstance. Whatever a case, a Missouri Tigers may want to grab a comfortable leading entering a fourth quarter today.During a regular season, a Tar Heels outscored opponents 112-45 in a final quarter.North Carolina didn't start poorly, a Tar Heels nearly doubled-up opponents (80-44) in a first quarter this season.The Tar Heels did struggle coming out of a locker room after halftime, however, as opponents owned a 100-59 scoring edge in a third quarter.
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