Wallace out for season

A rookie season that started with promise officially ended in premature fashion on Monday.
According to the injury report released by the University of Virginia, running back Dominique Wallace has been lost for the season with a foot injury, one that was suffered against Southern Miss on Saturday.
Although surgery had not been scheduled to date, the foot sprain derails what appeared to be a growing workload for the true freshman.
According to sources, the injury is similar in nature to that of Cedric Peerman, a former Cavalier. Peerman suffered a Lisfranc injury.
The news was released in conjunction with the announcement that safety Matt Leemhuis was out for the year with a broken clavicle. Surgery will not be needed for one of the program’s expected standouts on special teams.
Wallace, a four-star recruit from Chancellor High in Fredericksburg, appeared in Virginia’s first possession against Southern Miss and finished the game with 11 carries for 35 yards.
He also lost a fumble on the Cavaliers’ opening drive when he was drilled by Deddrick Jones five yards behind the line of scrimmage.
Virginia coach Al Groh said after the contest that the style in which Wallace ran against the Golden Eagles, a rugged, fearless approach, was what the coaching staff witnessed in practice.
“He has been rather impressive,” Groh said. “We like what he can bring to the offense.”
Clearly, Groh was unaware the severity of the injury at that time.
The season may not be a complete loss in terms of Wallace’s career — football players that do not play in more than three games in the first half of the regular season are eligible for a medical hardship.
It would not have been the case for Wallace prior to April 2007. At that time, the NCAA changed the criteria on medical hardships, shifting from two games (or less than 20 percent) to three games (or less than 30 percent).
Virginia can file the paperwork with the ACC at the end of the season.
Wallace, who hails from Spotsylvania, made his debut for Virginia against William & Mary, logging two carries for seven yards late in the game. He also carried the ball once against Texas Christian for seven yards.
“I knew that I might get into the [William & Mary] game, but I was not sure,” Wallace said following the loss to the in-state foe. “I am just glad they gave me the opportunity to get out there.”
Wallace said he entered training camp in August at 230 pounds, but lost 10 pounds in an attempt to see playing time as a rookie.
It worked.
“I lost a lot of the fat that I had from high school,” Wallace said, “and I turned it into muscle. That worked out a lot.”
Without Wallace, a greater role is expected for redshirt freshman Torrey Mack behind starting tailback Mikell Simpson, who was limited against Southern Miss after needing stitches last week in his shin following a play in practice.
Virginia and Heels at ‘High Noon’
The ACC announced Monday that Virginia and North Carolina will meet on Oct. 3 at noon.
The contest will be televised by Raycom.
While Virginia enjoys a bye week, the Tar Heels
(3-0) play Saturday at Georgia Tech.
The Cavaliers have won six of the past seven games against the Tar Heels, including two of the past three meeting in Chapel Hill, N.C.