While No. 12 Virginia (3-0, 1-0 ACC) has dominated its first three opponents, outscoring them 151 to 28 and out-rushing them 911 yards to 269, the Cavaliers now enter a new phase of their schedule.
The second part begins with this week's test against Big East challenger, Syracuse (2-1). The Orange bring a power running game led by senior Walter Reyes -- the fourth all-time leading rusher in Syracuse history with 2,830 yards and the first ever Orange player with 40 touchdowns.
"I think we're eager for what the next part of the schedule brings on," Virginia coach Al Groh said. "This is the most physical team that we've played for sure. I think this is the most balanced team we've played in terms of efficiency on both sides of the ball."
The second phase contrasts starkly with the Cavaliers' first three contests against inferior opponents, and Virginia's statistics likely won't continue to be as one-sided.
The Cavaliers play host to Syracuse and the Clemson Tigers (Thursday night on ESPN) before hitting the road for matchups with No. 8 Florida State and Duke. Clemson has the ACC's leading quarterback in Charlie Whitehurst and top receiver in senior Airese Currie, while Florida State has the ACC's No. 1 rushing defense to matchup with Virginia's ACC-leading rushing offense.
"Any football team likes to go out there and pound them," senior running back Alvin Pearman said. "The true tests come when you get put in adverse situations in the second half, whether you have to run the two-minute drill or whatever it is. We haven't been faced with that thus far, but we'll be ready for it."
News and Notes
Virginia tight end Heath Miller was named ACC offensive lineman of the week for the fourth time in his career. A week after posting zero catches, the junior grabbed six receptions for 54 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Cavalier receiving corps. ... Virginia is averaging 50.3 points per game and 525 yards per game, both tops in the ACC. ... Cavalier junior quarterback Marques Hagans leads the ACC with a 167.1 pass efficiency rating, as he has completed 72.9 percent of his passes for 568 yards and three touchdowns. ... Alvin Pearman is the ACC leader in all-purpose yards, averaging 144.7 per game. ... Wali Lundy's 54 points on nine touchdowns almost double the next highest scorer in the ACC, Maryland kicker Nick Novak, who has scored 30 points. ... Of the ACC's 11 teams, Virginia ranks dead last in average yards per punt. ... The Virginia offensive line has yet to allow a sack in three games. ... Groh said the offense eliminated plays last Friday afternoon based on which ones Hagans liked the best. ... Groh estimated they played an excess of 70 players against Akron. ... Virginia is 18 of 19 in the red zone this year, but Groh pointed out that in the one they missed, the game finished on the one-yard line. ... Tickets are still available for this Saturday's 3:30 p.m. contest. It will be the second-straight non-televised game for the Cavaliers and Virginia's fourth game out of their last six versus a Big East school dating back to last season.
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