Peter Lalich, a candidate to start at quarterback for the University of Virginia this season, has been charged with unlawful purchase and possession of alcohol, a misdemeanor.

The 6-5 sophomore from Northern Virginia is 20.

Lalich, the most experienced quarterback on the Cavaliers' roster, appeared Monday in Charlottesville General District Court. His case will be continued until July 21, 2009. The charge will be dropped then if Lalich has avoided further trouble.

The July 13 incident wasn't Lalich's first encounter with police. He has been cited several times for traffic violations in the Charlottesville area, court records show.

A U.Va. spokesman said coach Al Groh would not comment on the latest charge against Lalich. Any disciplinary action will be handled internally with the team, the spokesman said.

When reporters spoke with Groh on Monday afternoon at the ACC's preseason football gathering, they were unaware of Lalich's alcohol charge. But Groh was asked about the maturation of Lalich, who was U.Va.'s No. 2 quarterback as a true freshman last year.

"It's progressing," Groh said. "It certainly isn't full term, and there's nobody in our operation who expected in this short time frame that it would be full term."

-- Jeff White