Hagans steps in for high-stepping Virginia

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Posted 5:21AM on Thursday, October 7, 2004

Virginia's Marques Hagans played quarterback, wide receiver, running back and punt returner last year. Four games into the 2004 season, Hagans finally has settled in at one position. The junior ranks fourth nationally in passing efficiency and leads the Atlantic Coast Conference's top-scoring offense. Not bad for a guy who had thrown just 51 passes in his career before this season. ``Given the tasks put before him in the first four games, (he's done) about as well as a rookie quarterback could do,'' Virginia coach Al Groh said. ``I know he's been in there a little bit before, but this is the first time he's ever really been the guy.'' Hagans has thrown for 770 yards and four touchdowns against only one interception for the No. 10 Cavaliers (4-0, 1-0 ACC), who face Clemson on Thursday. Hagans leads the ACC in passing efficiency, and has also rushed for three scores. In a 31-10 win against Syracuse on Sept. 25, Hagans ran for two touchdowns including a 59-yarder on a broken play and went 11-for-12 for 202 yards and a score. Among his highlights was a bullet pass to Heath Miller for a 54-yard gain, a throw that traveled about 25 yards on a line and through a small opening in the defense. Wide receivers coach John Garrett, who played in the NFL and coached in the NFL, called it ``one of the greatest throws he's ever seen anyplace,'' Groh said. ``I saw him split open for a second. I knew I had to thread the needle,'' Hagans said. ``I just threw it with everything I had.'' It was unclear before the season whether that would be enough for Virginia, trying to replace the steady Matt Schaub. But the elusive Hagans has the Cavaliers rolling. ``When you get out of position or get out of your lane on the defensive line, he can get out and do some damage downfield running the ball,'' Clemson coach Tommy Bowden said. ``He can do some things that make them a little less predictable.'' AT HOME ON THE ROAD: Two years ago, when North Carolina State last traveled to North Carolina, a large part of the crowd was wearing Wolfpack red. N.C. State coach Chuck Amato hopes it's the same Saturday. ``The more the merrier,'' he said. ``It will be fitting to our kids to see that.'' Tar Heels center Jason Brown wasn't as happy about it. ``That just really boils your blood,'' he said good-naturedly. ``How could our fans let so many tickets go to our rival? We should have a successful system to buy all of the tickets. It was insulting.'' RUNNING SEMINOLES: Florida State's running game has taken some of the pressure off sophomore quarterback Wyatt Sexton. For the first time since 1994 a span of 115 games the Seminoles have run for more yards than they've gained passing for three straight games. They've gained 686 yards rushing compared to 615 passing. Tailbacks Leon Washington and Lorenzo Booker teamed up for 237 yards on 23 carries in last week's 38-16 victory over North Carolina. ``You can't measure what they mean to us they're invaluable,'' offensive coordinator Jeff Sexton said. ``They're our biggest threats in many ways whether you're throwing them the ball or handing it to them.'' LEGGETT'S BREAKTHROUGH: Miami freshman Lance Leggett looked like a rookie in his first career start against Louisiana Tech, finishing with two drops and no catches. Against Georgia Tech, Leggett looked like a quick study, catching four balls for 80 yards and a touchdown in the 27-3 win. Leggett and most of the receiving corps stayed late after practice in the days leading up with to the game, working on deep timing routes with quarterback Brock Berlin. ``Hard work pays off,'' Leggett said. BALL'S STRUGGLES: Reggie Ball is struggling, but Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey said the quarterback will still be the starter for Saturday's game at No. 23 Maryland. In his first two games this season, Ball threw for 452 yards and six touchdowns with just two interceptions. Georgia Tech scored 28 points in each win. In the last two games, Ball has thrown for 232 yards with one TD and six interceptions. The Yellow Jackets lost both games, scoring a combined 16 points. Ball was last year's ACC rookie of the year, starting all 13 games as a freshman. ``I think that everybody believes Reggie can do it and everybody is pulling for him,'' Gailey said. OT DISAPPOINTMENT: For the second time this season, Wake Forest must forget an overtime road loss. The Demon Deacons (3-2, 0-2) lost to Clemson 37-30 in double-overtime to open the season, and lost at N.C. State 27-21 in overtime last weekend. Wake Forest hosts Virginia Tech on Saturday, and the Demon Deacons know they could've been unbeaten heading into that game. The Demon Deacons still have Florida State, Miami and Maryland on the schedule. ``It would be good to be 4-1 right now, but we are 3-2 and we really want to go to a bowl game,'' sophomore safety Patrick Ghee said. ``That is our main goal for the year and it is going to be really tough, but I think we can do it.''