Since throwing two interceptions in his first career start against Georgia Tech, redshirt freshman Jameel Sewell has only thrown one interception in his team’s past four games.

Virginia is 3-5 overall and 2-2 in the ACC, but when coach Al Groh decided to go with Sewell over senior quarterback Christian Olsen, the Cavaliers have seen a dramatic increase in offensive output.

With Olsen starting, the team was averaging 12 points per game, but with Sewell the team is averaging nearly 23 points per game. They have also defeated two ACC opponents — North Carolina and Duke, both shutouts.

Coach Chuck Amato said he has been impressed with the 6-foot-3, 219-pound first-year starter.

“I want to say his first start was the Georgia Tech game,” Amato said. “He has improved, and improved and improved. He’s a quarterback who can hurt you with his feet. He’s got a cannon for an arm.”

Groh said he has also been impressed with his quarterback. When asked where Sewell had improved the most since taking over as starting quarterback, he said it was his “awareness in game situations.”

But overall, Groh said he has seen the quarterback take his game to the next level — first from getting the play called to now being able to lead a drive down the field.

“In the beginning with most young quarterbacks, they’re just thinking about the play — let’s get the play called properly and run the play properly,” Groh said.

“He’s directed a couple of real good two-minute drives the last couple of weeks. Those are indications of the fact that he is able to think bigger than just the plays.”

And Groh said his receivers have to be pleased with Sewell’s play.

“I would certainly think they are pleased to have Jameel as their quarterback,” Groh said. “He throws a very accurate ball — a very easy ball to catch.”

Amato talked highly of the quarterback all week, and not too much changed Wednesday during the weekly ACC teleconference. Amato said the first-year starter has changed the way the Cavaliers are playing football.

“He’s settling down. The game is probably not as fast to him as it was the first game,” Amato said.

“He’s got a bright future in front of him — he’s done wonders.”

Groh, whose team is 2-3 since making the quarterback change, said the quarterback position is pivotal toward a team’s success.

“The game is truly a quarterback driven game right now,” Groh said. “If you have good performance at that spot, you’re going to score a lot of points.”

Senior staff writer Dennis Burton contributed to this article