Virginia State University is heading into its biggest game of the season minus a key component — quarterback Tarian Ayres.

Mr. Ayres, a 20-year-old sophomore from Dillwyn, has been suspended from playing in the CIAA championship game Saturday against Winston-Salem State University, school officials announced.

The school-mandated suspension stems from Mr. Ayres’ arrest Sunday, Nov. 9, on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, underage possession of alcohol and speeding.

He was arrested 2:05 a.m. Sunday about 25 miles southeast of Ettrick in Waverly, where he was stopped on U.S. 460.

Mr. Ayres was clocked driving 52 mph in a 35 mph zone, and was spotted crossing the highway’s double solid line near Main Street.

Waverly Police Officer C.M. Washington said he determined Mr. Ayres was intoxicated after administering sobriety checks, including a breathalyzer test.

There were two passengers in Mr. Ayres’ car at the time of the arrest. He is scheduled to appear Nov. 18 in Sussex County General District Court.

VSU Coach Latrell Scott announced Mr. Ayres’ suspension from the championship game on Monday, saying only that it was for “violation of team rules.”

“Our players understand our expectations and also the consequences for not abiding by these expectations, regardless of the importance of a game,” added Coach Scott.

VSU, 8-2 with eight straight wins, plays Winston-Salem State on Saturday in Durham, N.C., for the CIAA championship and a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Coach Scott would not say whether Mr. Ayres would be reinstated should VSU reach the NCAA Division II playoffs that begin Nov. 22.

In guiding VSU to the Northern Division title, Mr. Ayres passed for 1,827 yards and 14 touchdowns, and ran for another 260 yards and five touchdowns.

He had three touchdown passes and rushed 12 times for 61 yards in VSU clinching the CIAA Northern Division title with a 33-12 win at Virginia Union University on Nov. 8 — a nationally televised game that ended about 4:30 p.m. at Hovey Field.

From rural Buckingham County, Mr. Ayres signed with Virginia Military Institute out of high school, but was red-shirted his first year in Lexington.

Mr. Ayres transferred last year to VSU, where he served as Justin Thorpe’s backup. He started two games late in the season when Mr. Thorpe was injured.

Mr. Ayres’ likely replacement at Saturday’s game in Durham is 6-foot-1, 190-pound freshman Niko Johnson from Hermitage High School in Henrico County. Mr. Johnson was All-Colonial District and second-team All-Metro in 2012.

Mr. Johnson was red-shirted last year. As Mr. Ayres’ backup this season, Mr. Johnson has thrown just three passes, completing two, for 13 yards.

The only other quarterback on VSU’s roster is freshman Walter Harold of Virginia Beach, who has not played at all.