EAST HARTFORD, Conn. -- Until would-be starter Peter Lalich was dropped from Virginia's dress list, nobody knew if the Cavs had a No. 2 quarterback.

Sophomore Marc Verica and senior Scott Deke were listed as equals until Verica was identified Wednesday as Lalich's replacement in the starting lineup.

Verica handed off on UVa's final three plays in a 52-7 loss to Southern Cal, when Deke's playing time was restricted to holding for kicks.

"He'd [Verica] never been in a game," UVa coach Al Groh said Thursday. "Even though it was small time, it was a first step. Hopefully, it means something. I don't know. Maybe it doesn't have any impact, other than him being able to say, 'I got in a game.'

"We had just had that conversation with [Deke and Verica] earlier in the week, when we made the decision that Peter would start the season. We told them, 'Fellas, you've done a really good job. It's been well-developed from where you were six months ago and we're going to keep it highly competitive."

Deke elected to return for his final year when 2007 starter Jameel Sewell flunked out of school, but he was not assured of playing time.

His only playing time had come in the final seconds of a 44-14 win over Pitt in 2007, when he handed off twice.

Verica (6 foot 3, 206 pounds) is the most athletic of Virginia's quarterbacks and ranks only behind Lalich in arm strength.

"Just like it was throughout the course of training camp, there wasn't much to choose from," Groh said. "Marc has had two very good weeks of practice and made some real good throws. So, it's about time to find out what he might be able to do for us in a game."

One reason why Verica and Deke were separated by an "or" on Virginia's depth chart is "that we were going to try and keep it competitive on a week-to-week basis," Groh said. "That way, if the players competed in practice for that slot, we would get the best reading."

Cutting it close

In the absence of Lalich, Virginia traveled to Connecticut with only two quarterbacks, Verica and Deke. The only other scholarship quarterback in the UVa program is freshman Riko Smalls, who has been operating the Cavaliers' scout team in practice.

On several occasions this season, running back Mikell Simpson has taken a direct snap from center in UVa's version of the "Wildcat" package popularized by Arkansas when it had Darren McFadden.

n Verica was among a large group of UVa players who were taking their first road trip, but the others were in either their first or second year.

Crowded booth

Unlike predecessor Mike London, new UVa defensive coordinator Bob Pruett does his game-day coaching from the press box, leaving only three assistants on the sidelines with Groh -- offensive line coach Dave Borbely, running backs coach Anthony Poindexter and special teams coach Bob Diaco. Diaco doubles as a linebackers coach and Poindexter as a special teams assistant.