Associated Press

UVa's Vic Hall has 16 catches in the last three games.

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- At his current rate, Virginia sophomore Rob Randolph will challenge the school record for field goals in a season.

That's not necessarily a good thing.

While the Cavaliers have to be thrilled with Randolph's 92.3 field-goal percentage, the objective is to score touchdowns.

Randolph has kicked eight field goals in UVa's three ACC games. Over the same span, the Cavaliers have scored three touchdowns, one on an interception return.

Virginia has gained 254, 201 and 198 yards in its three conference games -- two of them victories -- and has fallen to 115th out of 120 Division I-A teams in total offense.

"We were looking for and continue to look for a far more productive performance from everybody associated with the offense," head coach Al Groh said Monday.

UVa is 107th nationally in rushing offense and 103rd in passing efficiency. The Cavaliers are 109th in time of possession.

Inability to put together sustained drives has had an effect on UVa's defense, according to Groh.

"Against the two teams that we've played who are in the top 10 or 12, scoreboard-wise we were in pretty good shape," said Groh, referring to losses to TCU (30-14) and Georgia Tech (34-9).

"In both those games, the 55- or 60-play count is when our creases started to show."

Georgia Tech had 79 offensive plays, compared to Virginia's 44. In the UVa-TCU game, the differential was 71-51 in the Horned Frogs' favor.

Randolph is 12-of-13 on field goals after seven games and had as many field goals (nine) through six games as Virginia had all of last season. Connor Hughes set a school record with 23 field goals in 13 games in 2003 and only two other UVa kickers have had as many as 20.

Not satisfied

Groh invited reporters to call the ACC office when asked about a penalty against cornerback Ras-I Dowling with UVa trailing Georgia Tech 20-9 early in the fourth quarter. It gave the Yellow Jackets a first down when they were facing a fourth-and-7 from their 37-yard line.

"I suggest that everybody look at their TIVO'd version and come up with your own opinion," Groh said. "Clearly, I'm not the expert on this. If you have any questions, I'd suggest you direct them to the ACC office and see what they might say.

"I've got the same questions you might have. I guess Halloween was a week early. Ghostbusters, you know, whatever. Let's put it this way. It was not a part of the competitive part of the play."

When contacted Monday, ACC supervisor of football officials Doug Rhoads said he was travelling but was able to access the officials' report on-line and said the head linesman cited Dowling for unnecessary roughness for a "head butt."

Rhoads said he hoped to review the play upon returning to Greensboro, N.C.

By the numbers

Virginia (3-4, 2-1 ACC) has moved up to fifth in Division I-A in pass defense, which should make for an interesting matchup when Duke (4-3, 2-1) comes to Scott Stadium for a 3:30 p.m. Saturday kickoff. The Blue Devils lead the ACC in passing offense with 322.7 yards per game.

Saturday's game will mark Virginia's 1,200th in its 120 college football seasons. That's the most for any ACC team and ranks 12th nationally. North Carolina is second among ACC teams with 1,183.

After a 16-tackle afternoon Saturday against Georgia Tech, UVa defensive lineman Nate Collins has 47 tackles for the season, two behind team leader Steve Greer. Collins did not have more than 36 tackles in any of his first three seasons, although he was a starter or top reserve as a sophomore and junior.

Odds 'n' ends

Groh said that outside linebacker Aaron Clark, who suffered a sprained knee and was helped from the field in the fourth quarter, was inadvertently leg-whipped by teammate Zane Parr on the play. ... Groh commended junior long snapper Danny Aiken from Roanoke for successfully downing a punt at the Georgia Tech 1-yard line. Sophomore Ray Keys from Franklin County is up to three special-teams tackles in limited action. ... Ex-cornerback and quarterback Vic Hall has 16 receptions in the past three games. No other UVa receiver has more than eight.