To avoid missing a bowl game for the first time since 1997, the Virginia football team needs to win all of its next four games. Its best chance for a win comes tomorrow, when Wake Forest arrives for a noon matchup at Scott Stadium.
The Cavaliers (3-5, 2-4 ACC) have won 17 straight over the Demon Deacons (3-4, 1-4 ACC). The last time Wake Forest defeated Virginia was Oct. 22, 1983, a 38-34 win in Winston-Salem, when current Virginia coach Al Groh was Wake Forest's head coach. Wake's last win in Charlottesville was a 24-21 decision on Oct. 24, 1981.
Tomorrow's game will be Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe's first against his alma mater. Grobe was a middle guard and linebacker for the Cavaliers from 1973 to 1974.
"I had no idea we had lost to them 17 games in a row," Grobe said in an ACC teleconference Wednesday. Virginia has "done great things with their football program and certainly earned those 17 wins. We would like to get off this string. I don't know when it is going to happen and we would like to play well this weekend."
The Cavaliers currently are riding a losing streak of their own. Virginia has dropped its last four games, all to ACC opponents, including a 24-0 loss to N.C. State last week. The game against Wake Forest marks the first of four straight home games for the Cavaliers. Groh has some areas where he thinks the Cavaliers can improve in so they can stop their losing skid.
"We can't have a third quarter letdown again this week," said Groh, whose team gave up 21 points in the third quarter to N.C. State last week. Virginia also allowed Florida State 16 points in the third quarter in a 43-7 loss two weeks ago.
Special teams have also caused problems for the Cavaliers. Against N.C. State, Virginia missed three field goals, including one the Wolfpack blocked.
"We have to continue to work on our special teams," Groh said. "They have to be better this week."
The Cavaliers have had problems this season stopping the run and will be facing the best rushing offense in the ACC. The Demon Deacons are averaging 229.4 yards on the ground, best in the conference. Meanwhile, Virginia has allowed 213.2 yards per game on the ground, an average that ranks next to last in the conference.
Wake Forest, however, may be without its leading rusher, Tarence Williams, who sprained his ankle last week in the Deacons' 21-14 loss at Clemson. Williams has amassed 691 yards on 163 carries this season.
Williams "is a guy that you don't have to worry about," Grobe said. "He will be ready if at all possible. But right now, in my mind, he is a doubtful guy. He has a heart of a lion and if there is any way to get him out there, he will be."
Virginia, though, is not without its own offensive weapons, namely wide receiver Billy McMullen. Leading the conference in receptions per game (7), McMullen has 684 yards on 56 catches this season. His average of 85.5 yards per game ranks second in the conference, and he is tied for third in the nation with nine touchdown receptions.
Though the Cavaliers have used two quarterbacks this season, Groh seems to be leaning toward Matt Schaub again this week. The sophomore has produced 1,105 yards on 104-of-185 passing with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions.
"Schaub has been playing well," Groh said. "His numbers are pretty good. It's good to stay with one guy when he's hot. It's better than playing ping-pong with them."
Despite recent success against Wake, Groh refuses to be overconfident about his chances tomorrow. He knows that after Wake Forest, the schedule doesn't get any easier for the Cavaliers, with Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and Penn State as opponents over the next four weeks.
"Everybody is going to challenge us for the rest of the year," Groh said. "Everybody"
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