CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Virginia quarterback Jameel Sewell has always been accountable for his performances and Saturday he was accountable for his behavior.

Sewell went ballistic after his fourth-and-1 run on UVa's final offensive play was found to be short of the first-down marker at Boston College's 11-yard line.

It appeared that the ball had been spotted in one location before a linesman raced toward the middle of the field and changed the spot.

"That's what it looked like," Sewell told reporters after a 14-10 loss to Boston College. "That's pretty much why I was so upset, but there's nothing I can do about it. I thought I got [the first down] but looks can be deceiving.

"I want to apologize to that officiating staff. I kind of lost it a little bit. You guys [on the officiating crew] are just doing your job. I should have just did my job a little better."

Sewell, returning to the lineup after fighting ankle and shoulder injuries for two weeks, may not have delivered a victory but completed 21 of 41 passes for 221 yards.

UVa receivers dropped four passes on the Cavaliers' last two drives, or else there might have been a different outcome.

The fourth-down call from the bench was designed for a pass.

"I was just looking at my movement key," Sewell said. "He was kind of squatting on what I wanted to throw. I figured, 'I can just run for 2 yards,' with him sinking back to take away a lot of the things they were trying to take away."

Sewell had been listed as questionable (50-50) in an injury report submitted to the ACC on Thursday. He and back-up Marc Verica both had been listed as questionable, although Verica developed symptoms of a concussion and did not dress.

"It was a tremendous effort on [Sewell's] part," Virginia coach Al Groh said. "Thursday was only day that Jameel has practiced in the past two weeks."

Verica had taken all the snaps in practice Tuesday and Wednesday.

"Under the circumstances, I think it was one of [Sewell's] most courageous and best performances against a defense that has tested a lot of quarterbacks."

Sewell went over the 5,000-yard passing mark (5,086) for his college career and passed Marques Hagans for fifth place on the Cavaliers' all-time list. He is on a pace to pass No. 4 Aaron Brooks (5,118) and No. 3 Scott Gardner (5,218).

"I was familiar with the game plan," Sewell said. "I was familiar with all the looks. I was staying locked in in case I had to play. It's different, not getting those reps in practice, but I've been here before."

The Cavaliers (3-7, 2-4 ACC) no longer have a shot at a winning record or a potential bowl bid that might accompany it. Virginia's last two games are against top-25 opponents Clemson at Clemson and Virginia Tech in Charlottesville.

"It's going to be extremely difficult," he said of the assignment.

Odds 'n' ends

Former Virginia Tech and Patrick Henry High School long snapper Steve Hale was pressed into service Saturday as the "red hat" for the Virginia-Boston College game, serving as the coordinator for television timeouts.

Hale said he was stopped by a UVa cheerleader inquiring about the Virginia Tech sticker on his car but planned on extending his stay in Charlottesville with a steak dinner at the Aberdeen Barn.

He's normally the red hat at Virginia Tech's Lane Stadium, but the Hokies were at Maryland on Saturday.

• Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich, sitting out the 2009 season while battling a form of bone cancer, was presented with a check for $8,194.94 in pregame ceremonies. That included approximately $1,500 from the UVa players, who gave up their Saturday per diem. All the money goes to research for Ewing's Sarcoma.

Next week

The game time will be announced today for next Saturday's match-up between Virginia and Clemson at Death Valley.

The Tigers (7-3, 5-2) have a one-half game lead over Boston College in the Atlantic Division after winning at North Carolina State 43-23. Clemson won in Charlottesville last year 15-3.