No other player on the Virginia football team can change a game like senior quarterback Marques Hagans.
Hagans showcased his versatility Saturday against Syracuse. In addition to his 145 yards through the air, Hagans contributed 112 yards on the ground to lead the Cavaliers in both statistical categories on the way to Virginia's hard-fought 27-24 win.
With the heroics, though, came some rough patches. Hagans' three interceptions stalled several Virginia drives and helped contribute to the nail-biting finish.
"I'm disappointed by the three interceptions," Hagans said. But "my team fought hard and that's all that matters. They kept us in the game and we won a tough one on the road."
Hagans' early season throwing struggles are a far cry from the efficiency he displayed last year. The five interceptions he has thrown this year have already matched his total from the entire 2004 season.
Not all interceptions are created equal, however. Hagans' picks against Syracuse appeared to be bad throws, and not examples of poor decision making.
"They were all accuracy throws," Groh said. "A point that we've tried to emphasize with the whole team is for them to always remember that things aren't going to go perfectly. Things are going to happen. You gotta forget about it, trust yourself and trust the system."
Hagans' considerable arm strength, an asset most of the time, got him in trouble on a couple throws, causing him to put too much pace on the ball and overthrow his receivers. His receivers, though, said they believe it is something the team can overcome with more attention in practice.
Sophomore tight end Tom Santi was the intended receiver on one of Hagans' first-half interceptions. Hagans threw the ball slightly behind him, into the arms of Syracuse's Ryan LaCasse.
Hagans "definitely has great arm strength," Santi said. "Once we get our timing down and get the chemistry down, I don't mind it."
Even with his struggles in the passing game, Hagans' athleticism allows him a luxury few quarterbacks can claim -- the ability to take over a game with his feet. When he couldn't find receivers down the field, Hagans tucked the ball away and gashed the Syracuse defense with spectacular runs Virginia fans have come to expect.
"He's a quarterback that's very patient," junior wide receiver Deyon Williams said. "If the play is broken up, he'll run. But he's going to pass first and run second."
The Syracuse defense had no answer for Hagans' agility and shiftiness, allowing him to average nearly eight yards per carry.
Most importantly, Hagans simply has done his job as quarterback, leading the Cavaliers to a 2-0 start, including last weekend's win in the raucous Carrier Dome against a tough, physical defense. With the game on the line, there was no question who the team looked to for leadership.
"When things were down, [Hagans] was the guy that held us together," senior tackle Brad Butler said. "Leaders are going to make mistakes. It doesn't matter how great of a player you are. How you come back from those mistakes is going to determine whether you win the game or not."
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