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Sept. 20, 2004
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia looks to extend its winning streak to seven games on Saturday, Sept.. 25 against Syracuse in its final non-conference clash of the season. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. Virginia is in the midst of a four-game homestand, its longest regularly scheduled homestand since 1982.
The Orange has won both previous meetings between the two schools (1975, 1977). The 29-year gap between their first trip to Charlottesville and this one is one of the longest gaps between visits in Virginia history.
The Cavaliers have posted three convincing wins to start the season and are ranked 12th in both polls this week, their highest rank since 1998. Virginia also looks to open the season 4-0 for the first time since then.
Doak Walker Award candidate TB Wali Lundy leads a powerful offense that is averaging 50.3 points and more than 500 yards per game. Lundy is 20th in the country in rushing with an average of 106.3 yards per game. He has also demonstrated a consistent ability to find the end zone and leads the nation with nine TDs, all on the ground.
Quarterback Marques Hagans has been outstanding in his first year as a starter. He is eighth in the country in passing efficiency, while completing 72.9 percent of his passes.
Protecting Hagans and paving the way for Lundy is one of the nation’s most experienced offensive lines, headlined by Outland Trophy candidate G Elton Brown. All five starters return from a year ago, including four who are in their third year as starters. The line has 121 career starts among them.
Lombardi Award candidate DE Chris Canty leads ACC defensive linemen in tackling with an average of 7.7 tackles per game. He led the way last week in the shutout of Akron with 10 tackles. He is joined up front by fellow three-year starters NT Andrew Hoffman and DE Brennan Schmidt.
The linebacker corps has been judged as the best in the nation by The Sporting News and is led by junior Darryl Blackstock and sophomore Ahmad Brooks, both Butkus Award candidates. This duo are among the ACC sack leaders with three sacks apiece. Sophomore Kai Parham has been called a “hammer” by head coach Al Groh, while first-year starter Dennis Haley is second in tackling among the LBs.
The secondary had its best performance of the season last weekend against Akron. They helped make Akron QB Charlie Frye, one of the nation’s best passers, turn in one of the worst performances of his career. He entered the game averaging 311.0 yards passing per game, but was held to a career-low 72 yards before being replaced for the fourth quarter.
Virginia has been judicious with the ball and have committed just one turnover (interception) this season. The Cavaliers haven?t lost a fumble in the last seven games.
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