With Virginia clinging to a slim 24-19 lead, coach Al Groh put the game in the hands of redshirt freshman Cedric Peerman.
The decision paid off for Groh and the rest of the Virginia football team. Peerman carried the ball 10 times on the Cavaliers 12-play, 69-yard drive in the fourth quarter to put away a stubborn Western Michigan team.
"He certainly helped the team out tonight," Groh said of Peerman. "That's a very positive thing for a young player to step up and deal with his first game under those circumstances."
With starter Wali Lundy sidelined early in the first half with a foot injury, Groh initially looked to juniors Michael Johnson and Jason Snelling to fill the void. Despite running for 104 yards on 14 carries, both backs had costly fumbles that killed promising drives for the Cavaliers and opened up the door for Peerman.
Peerman solidified the Cavaliers' running game, finishing the game with 16 carries for 69 yards and one touchdown, and most importantly, no fumbles.
Peerman "ran like he wanted the rock," senior Ottowa Anderson said. "He ran hard. His first game ever playing, he went out there and showed a lot."
Peerman's performance will go a long way to sorting out a crowded Cavalier backfield. Before the Western Michigan game, Peerman sat third on the depth chart.
Nobody could have foreseen the turn of events that put the Cavalier offense square on Peerman's back. Peerman, however, has been preparing for an opportunity like this and was determined to maximize it.
"You always have to be ready," Peerman said. "Coming in I guess I was third or fourth string tailback, so you always have to be ready. One guy goes down, you could be under fire. Coach Poindexter is always telling me that -- just be aware at all times because you could be in the game at anytime."
Peerman credits the offensive line for helping him grind out the yards on the team's final touchdown drive.
"Our offensive line got a great push each play," Peerman said. "We were able to milk the clock. I don't know how much time we took off, but I think we took a considerable amount of time off the clock when we were able to punch it into the end zone."
His performance against the Broncos may result in a reshuffled depth chart.
"He obviously helped his circumstances out a lot," Groh said.
Since setting foot on Grounds at the beginning of last year, Peerman has added considerable bulk through the Cavaliers' strength and conditioning program. The muscular Peerman looked a lot like Wali Lundy against the Broncos, pounding out tough yards between the tackles as well as getting to the outside with his speed.
"He's always gonna run people over," senior D'Brickashaw Ferguson said. "I think that was evident in today's showing. I hope he continues to have success."
In the versatile Peerman, Groh said he sees a back that fits his bruising, smash-mouth system while being explosive enough for big gains.
"It clearly looks like he fits into the mix," Groh said.
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