Hagans Ends His Virginia Career on a High Note

Virginia 34, Minnesota 31

NASHVILLE, Dec. 30 -- Connor Hughes made the field goal that put Virginia ahead of Minnesota with 1 minute 8 seconds left in Friday's Music City Bowl, and cornerback Marcus Hamilton made the play that helped the Cavaliers hold on for a thrilling 34-31 victory at The Coliseum.

But in the mind of Virginia Coach Al Groh and many of his players, quarterback Marques Hagans was the player who prevented the Cavaliers from ending the season with a loss for the second year in a row.

Hagans, a senior from Hampton, Va., passed for two touchdowns and 358 yards, the highest passing total of his career and the most by a Virginia quarterback in a bowl game. And, time and again in front of an announced crowd of 40,519, Hagans made the plays that kept the Cavaliers alive after they fell behind by 14 points during the first half.

"Obviously, the heart and the energy, as well as the production that Marques provided us, was just a tremendous punctuation point to the career that he's had at Virginia," Groh said. "He's been a special player for us."

Hagans was never more special for the Cavaliers (7-5) than during their winning drive. With the score tied at 31, Minnesota punted with about five minutes left and pinned Virginia at its 3-yard line. On first down, Hagans rolled to his right and was nearly sacked in the end zone for a safety by defensive end Willie Van DeSteeg. But Hagans was able to sidestep the attempted tackle and run back to the 3. On the next play, Hagans fired a 19-yard pass to junior Deyon Williams (Suitland) for a first down.

"It was close, but they weren't going to get me down," Hagans said of the near safety, which would have put the Gophers (7-5) ahead by two and given them the ball back. "I couldn't go back to the sideline with a safety on the board. I would have thrown it into the stands before that happened."

The Cavaliers methodically moved across midfield after that and then faced third and six at the Minnesota 43 with 2 minutes 49 seconds to play. Hagans dropped back to pass but the pocket collapsed, and linebacker Mario Reese dived at Hagans for a sack. Hagans escaped again, rolled to his right and fired a pass across the middle to Emmanuel Byers, who gained 18 yards to the 25.

The Cavaliers ran three more plays and gained two yards, setting up Hughes's 39-yard field goal -- the third game-winning field goal of the senior's career. After the game, Groh asked Hughes if he had been nervous.

"Coach, that was the easiest one I ever tried," Hughes told him.

Nothing came easy for Virginia's defense, which Groh directed after defensive coordinator Al Golden left to become Temple's coach. After Minnesota returned the kickoff to its 27 with 61 seconds left, quarterback Bryan Cupito completed a 25-yard pass to Ernie Wheelwright to move to the Virginia 48. Then, with 45 seconds left and the Gophers probably needing 20 to 25 yards to attempt a tying field goal, Minnesota Coach Glen Mason went for it all on first down.

Cupito rolled to his left and threw into the end zone for Wheelwright, who was double-covered by Hamilton and safety Byron Glaspy. All three players got their hands on the football, and Hamilton pried it from Wheelwright as they fell into the end zone, allowing the Cavaliers to run out the final 36 seconds.

"If you want to be critical, that was my call," Mason said. "I knew we only needed a field goal. But I thought it was the right time to take a shot. We have tall receivers. More times than not, the offense catches the ball on that type of play."