Proctor, Murray propel Navy past Wake, 13-10
By: Kevin Dunleavy
Examiner Staff Writer
October 24, 2009
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| Navy QB Kriss Proctor eludes a tackle by Wake Forest LB Lee Malchow during the first half Saturday in Annapolis, Md. (AP) |
Even in a deluge, with new QB and without throwing a pass, Mids offense runs smoothly against the Demon Deacons
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Navy’s vaunted triple-option offense faced two operational hazards Saturday – a driving rainstorm and a new quarterback.
But against visiting Wake Forest, the Midshipmen survived the elements and the starting debut of sophomore Kriss Proctor in a 13-10 homecoming victory before 31,907 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
MIDS GET THEIR KICKS
» Junior Joe Buckley’s 50-yard field goal in the first quarter was the longest for Navy in two years.
» Navy junior punter Kyle Delahooke’s first punt went for a career-high 65 yards and was downed at the Wake 3. His final punt, in the fourth quarter, went for 68 yards and helped pin the Deacons back on their final possession.
» The last time Navy won five straight was when it opened the 2004 season with five wins in a row.
With the exception of a third-quarter fumble, Proctor (23 carries, 89 yards) ran the offense smoothly, scoring the Mids’ lone touchdown on a 40-yard run, and teaming with fullback Vince Murray (27 carries, 175 yards) as the Mids rolled up 338 yards, all on the ground.
“It’s always tough playing in rain conditions, running the option,” said Proctor. “First collegiate win. It feels so good. I was yelling to God, ‘Thank you for this. Thanks for getting me mentally and physically through this.’ A great win and a great feeling.”
Navy (6-2) also got a big effort from its defense, led by senior linebackers Tony Haberer (eight tackles, two sacks) and Ross Pospisil (eight tackles). In holding Wake to its season low, Navy won its fifth straight and moved a step closer to clinching a bowl berth. With a win in one of their next four games, the Mids will go bowling for the seventh straight year.
“Our kids leave me speechless,” said Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo. “We battled the whole game and our defense was really strong at the end.”
Actually, the Navy defense was strong throughout, frustrating Wake quarterback Riley Skinner (13-of-25, 176 yards).
“It’s hard to blame it on the conditions because you both have to play in it,” said Skinner, a four-year starting senior. “It didn’t rain for the first quarter and we still didn’t score any points. We just didn’t respond to the adversity as well as they did.”
It was the second time in as many years that Navy won a game without throwing a pass. Last year when the Mids beat SMU in a downpour, 34-7, they became the first major college team in 11 years to go an entire game without throwing a pass.
“We called a few pass plays. They played it pretty good,” said Proctor. “It was raining so the ball was wet. I didn’t have a real good grip on the ball, so I just ran it.”
Navy went three-and-out on its opening possession, but Proctor got the Mids on the move the next time they got the ball. First he pitched out to freshman slot back Gee Gee Greene for 15 yards, then Proctor optioned for 7 yards and another first down, setting up junior Joe Buckley’s 50-yard field goal for a 3-0 Navy lead.
After the teams traded field goals in the second period, the Mids scored the game’s first touchdown on the opening possession of the second half. After five consecutive straight-ahead runs by fullback Murray netted 28 yards, Proctor faked to Murray and followed him through the hole, breaking into the clear, and sprinting 40 yards to the end zone for a 13-3 Navy lead.
The Mids had a chance to extend their lead, driving 70 yards the next time they got the ball. Backup fullback Alexander Teich, playing for the first time since injuring his ankle three weeks earlier against Air Force, had a 31-yard run as Navy drove to the Wake 2. But on a second down play, Proctor was hit by junior linebacker Matt Woodlief, fumbled the ball, and it was recovered by Wake middle linebacker Dominique Midgett (15 tackles).
“I didn’t swear, but I probably said some things I shouldn’t have,” said Niumatalolo. “You just have to take care of the ball.”
Wake Forest (4-4) never penetrated the Navy 20 in the first three quarters. But with the Mids in a prevent defense, the Demon Deacons drove 76 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Skinner completed 4 of 6 passes for 50 yards on the drive, including a 15-yarder for the score to sophomore Devon Brown to draw Wake close, 13-10, with 7 minutes, 41 seconds left.
The Demon Deacons got the ball back with 4 minutes left, but couldn’t get a first down after sustaining a holding penalty. Junior Emmett Merchant made the key play, defending a Skinner pass on third down.
Navy got the ball back with 2:38 left and didn’t give it up. The key play came on third-and-9, Murray burst through a hole on the right side, created by sophomore guard David Hong and junior tackle Matt Molloy, and rolled 42 yards for the clinching first down.
“A lot of those runs Vince got were because the guys on our side were doing a nice job inside,” said Niumatalolo. “[They] ran hard, but give credit to the offensive line, blocking against two tough guys inside, [Boo] Robinson and [John] Russell.”
The continued success of the offense, in the absence of quarterback Ricky Dobbs (knee) and slot back Marcus Curry (leg), is testament to Navy’s system. Against Wake, the Mids depended heavily on a quarterback and fullback, who had started a combined two college games entering Saturday. The duo combined for 50 of Navy’s 64 rushes.
“Kriss did a great job making quick decisions,” said Murray. “Me and Kriss have really worked a lot together, in the spring last year. Kriss did a great job making the right read and doing it quick.”
Despite an upgraded schedule, Navy is off to its best start since 2004. Niumatalolo says it’s about chemistry.
“I’ve been here 12 years and all the teams are close,” said Niumatalolo. “But this team is uniquely close, great love, great caring for one another.”
