The Roanoke Times | File October

Mikell Simpson, who has been lost for the rest of the season with a broken collarbone, rushed for 262 yards and three TDs in 2008.

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- In 2007, Virginia might have been lost without Mikell Simpson to replace an injured Cedric Peerman at tailback.

The Cavaliers no longer have Simpson as an insurance policy this year.

Fortunately for Virginia, Peerman is close to 100 percent as the Cavaliers (5-4, 3-2 ACC) enter the final month of the regular season. Simpson, meanwhile, has been lost for the year with a broken collarbone suffered Saturday in a 24-17 overtime loss to Miami.

Presumably, Simpson will be available for the Cavaliers as a fifth-year senior in 2009, but questions have been posed by his reduced production. After rushing for 5 yards per carry in 2007, Simpson had seen his average fall to 3.0 this season.

He failed to pick up positive yardage on 25 of his 87 carries, with 15 resulting in lost yardage,

"We've discussed it," head coach Al Groh said earlier this week. "Obviously, it's a source of consternation to everybody here in the office. "Anthony [Poindexter] has had quite a few discussions with Mikell about it.

"Mikell recognizes it. He doesn't need us to bring it to his attention."

Poindexter, who coaches the UVa running backs, had high hopes for his 1-2 punch of Peerman and Simpson. Peerman is a power runner with good speed, while Simpson's forte last year was his vision and ability to spot holes.

With the loss of three starters from the offensive line, including first-round NFL Draft pick Branden Albert, it's understandable that there haven't been as many holes this season.

"I don't know," Groh said. "We really haven't been able to come up with anything definitive, other than what the obvious is, and that's results."

The replacements

Sophomore tailback Keith Payne will return to practice this week after missing five games with a broken hand and "we'll see where that takes us," Groh said.

It is unlikely that Payne will be ready to play Saturday against Wake Forest, which leaves seldom-used sophomore Raynard Horne as Peerman's top backup.

At least that's what UVa's new two-deep roster says, but No. 1 fullback Rashawn Jackson is another alternative. When the Cavaliers opened in a one-back formation against Texas Tech in the Gator Bowl, Jackson got the call.

Jackson has been more of a receiver than ball-carrier in recent games, although he did not have a carry or a reception against Miami.

Days after his arrest on two felony charges related to a November 2007 robbery, Jackson played sparingly, but his playing time always has depended on UVa's offensive formations.

Election day

Peerman, who did not speak with reporters after a late fumble in the Miami game, had planned to do interviews Tuesday before the presidential election interceded.

Peerman thought he was going to vote in Charlottesville before learning that he needed to return to his home precinct outside Lynchburg. So, Peerman got in his car and took a 120-mile round trip to Campbell County.

"It doesn't surprise me," Groh said. "He's going to do everything the right way."

One of Peerman's fellow co-captains, outside linebacker Clint Sintim, set his alarm for 5:45 a.m. in hopes of beating the voting crush.

He said he still had to wait 30 minutes, only to pass by the voting station at a later hour and see a much shorter line.

On Wake Forest

The Deacons (5-3, 3-2) have won six consecutive home games. ... Wake is fourth in Division I-A in turnover margin with a plus-11 differential. ... The Deacons' 33-30 overtime victory Saturday against Duke ended with an end-zone interception by cornerback Alphonso Smith. It was Smith's second interception of the game and 19th of his career, one shy of the ACC record held by former North Carolina cornerback Dre Bly.

By the numbers

Only one Virginia tight end, Heath Miller, has had as many receptions in his senior year as John Phillips, who has 42. Miller, now with the Pittsburgh Steelers, had 70 in 2003. ... UVa's leading receiver, Kevin Ogletree, has two or more receptions in 21 consecutive games and 44 for the season. He is bidding for his second 50-reception season, a feat accomplished by only one other Cavalier, Billy McMullen.

Connections

UVa quarterback Marc Verica comes from the same high school, Monsignor Bonner in Philadelphia, as promising Cavalier men's basketball player Jeff Jones. Verica, a redshirt sophomore, was one year ahead of Jones in high school.