CHARLOTTESVILLE -- The most revealing statement on Virginia's injury situation came when co-captain Nate Collins was being interviewed Monday and said that fellow defensive end Matt Conrath "might be out for a couple of weeks."

To watch Conrath hobbling on crutches following a 20-9 UVa victory at Maryland, it was hard to project him at anywhere near 100 percent for the Cavaliers' game Saturday with 11th-ranked Georgia Tech (6-1 overall, 4-1 ACC).

Collins said the players' first impression was that Conrath had been cheap-shotted on a Maryland kneel-down play at the end of the first half, but replays showed otherwise. Conrath stepped on one of the feet of Maryland's tight end.

UVa quarterback Jameel Sewell also left the game prematurely after aggravating an old ankle injury. Coach Al Groh said not to expect any word on Sewell's availability until Thursday.

Fifth-year tailback Mikell Simpson, the Cavaliers' leading rusher for the season, was in uniform Saturday but did not play after taking a knee to the head one week earlier.

Groh said that the decision not to use Simpson on Saturday was partly precautionary.

"There are more important things in life than just football," Groh said, "especially with a young guy like that, who has everything in front of him. We're going to go on what the medical people say, but if asked to make a decision on it, we will certainly be on the cautious side."

Was it the hat?

When he went to the locker room Saturday with his team trailing Maryland 6-3, Groh took off the blue hat he had been wearing and switched to an orange hat, but don't chalk that up to superstition.

"Normally, they put multiple hats in the locker room," said Groh, who said he doesn't pack them himself. "One got wet, so I put on the other one."

Co-captain Denzell Burrell said Groh has a collection of hats that he frequently displays at practice.

"I've never questioned his hat choice," Burrell said.

On second thought

There was no malice intended when Virginia took possession at Maryland's 2-yard line with 1:47 remaining Saturday and proceeded to call a running play that resulted in the Cavaliers' final touchdown.

"If I had it to do again, I would have knelt twice, then maybe run the ball," UVa coach Al Groh said. "I was a little premature there. A case could be made for taking a knee three times there and running the clock. Certainly a case could be made for that, maybe a better case."

Still confused

Groh had little explanation for a second-quarter punt by Jimmy Howell that travelled minus-3 yards. It was first reported as a block in the Maryland press box, but replays indicated that nobody touched it.

UVa lined up in its usual "shield" formation and Howell ran to his right, as if he were going to punt the ball in the "rugby" fashion that the Cavaliers have been using. Then, it looked like he might run.

"Far be it from me to try and explain," Groh said. "It was our intention that he was going to punt the ball. Obviously, he saw some sort of aliens out there that none of us could see."

By the numbers

With five sacks allowed Saturday, Virginia dropped to 118th out of 120 Division I-A teams in sack avoidance. ... UVa quarterback Jameel Sewell had 33 yards in losses Saturday as the Cavaliers were outgained 284-201. That dropped UVa to 107th in the nation in total offense.

n Some of UVa's best statistical categories are pass-efficiency defense (seventh), third-down conversion defense (10th), pass defense (11th) and total defense (21st). After a rough start, the Cavaliers are up to 37th in turnover margin.

Short yardage

For possibly the first time this season, quarterback Jameel Sewell lined up behind center and ran a quarterback sneak on third-and-1 from the Maryland 2 in the second quarter.

Sewell picked up the first down -- "Lucky," observed Groh, hardly a sneak proponent -- and then the Terps stuffed him on another sneak attempt from the 1.

UVa was called for a false start on second-and-goal, after which Sewell was sacked for an 8-yard loss. For the season, the Cavaliers have been successful only twice in third- or fourth-and-1 situations.

Odds 'n' ends

Georgia Tech (6-1 overall, 4-1 ACC) has been installed as a four-point favorite for Saturday's game. ... Groh said that UVa will seek an extra season for injured linebacker Jared Detrick, who has never been redshirted. ... Virginia's Oct. 31 game at Duke will have a 3:30 p.m. kickoff. ... The season finale Nov. 28 against Virginia Tech is a sellout.