Cavaliers 3-0, but toughest tests are still ahead

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA - Virginia went into its game against Akron with simple enough goals: improved kickoff coverage, a defense that was around the ball more, trying to create turnovers, and working on some new wrinkles in the passing game.<br> <br> They did all of those and more in a 51-0 victory that was as lopsided as the score. Virginia gained 522 yards and held the Zips (0-3) to just 84, 16 in the second half.<br> <br> The No. 12 Cavaliers also improved to 3-0 for the first time since 1998, but apart from some tips of the cap to another strong effort on both sides of the ball, the team was unapologetic for doing what it is supposed to do and mostly business afterward.<br> <br> ``That&#39;s amazing. That&#39;s unheard of,&#39;&#39; senior defensive end Chris Canty said of the Cavaliers&#39; ability to shut down Akron and record-setting quarterback Charlie Frye.<br> <br> Frye arrived holding 49 Zips records, but was pulled in the third quarter after completing just 10 of 23 passes for a career-low 72 yards. He also was intercepted twice, sacked four times and harrassed all day once the Zips&#39; only hope was to throw.<br> <br> ``We knew where he was really going to be the majority of the day,&#39;&#39; Canty said of Frye and his pocket-passing propensity. ``We&#39;re stepping up to a lot of challenges.<br> <br> ``It&#39;s just going to get tougher from here on out, but we&#39;re prepared for that.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Indeed, while outscoring Temple, North Carolina and the Zips by a combined 151-38 in the three victories, the Cavaliers know the schedule is about to get much harder.<br> <br> Syracuse is next up, also at Scott Stadium, with Clemson, No. 8 Florida State, No. 23 Maryland and No. 4 Miami all still ahead before the Cavaliers finish against Virginia Tech.<br> <br> ``If you&#39;re a competitor, you love that,&#39;&#39; Canty said.<br> <br> Coach Al Groh likes the way his team has maintained its business approach in spite of three consecutive 30-plus point victories, three consecutive 500-yard offensive outbursts for the first time since 1990 and its stingiest defensive game since 1979.<br> <br> ``I liked that the players were pretty focused on the game during the course of the week, as well as on the particular targets we gave them from a performance standpoint,&#39;&#39; Groh said. ``They really took that message to heart and did what we asked them to do.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> It&#39;s an approach he&#39;s come to expect from a team driven to keep climbing.<br> <br> ``These players came into this season with a particular focus and it was on the big picture,&#39;&#39; said Groh, now 25-17 in his fourth year at Virginia. ``They&#39;ve good a good passion, a good purposefulness about them. They know the big games are coming up.&#39;&#39;