Dislocated elbow likely to sideline Proctor When Navy quarterback Kriss Proctor fell on his left elbow and felt a familiar pain Saturday against East Carolina, he didn’t need a doctor’s diagnosis. After all, it’s an injury he has had three other times in his football career.
“It popped right out,” Proctor said matter-of-factly about his dislocated elbow, which was immobilized in a sling Monday as he watched Navy (2-5) prepare for Saturday’s game at Notre Dame (4-3).
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Proctor’s chances to play are a “long shot,” according to coach Ken Niumatalolo. Sophomore Trey Miller is set to take make his first college start, which is a less daunting prospect for the Midshipmen after his impressive appearance in relief against East Carolina.
| UP NEXT | ||||
| Navy at Notre Dame | ||||
| When » | Saturday, 3:30 p.m. | |||
| Where » | Notre Dame Stadium, | South Bend, Ind. | ||
| TV » | NBC | |||
Miller completed five of 12 passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns, both in the fourth quarter when he rallied Navy in its 38-35 loss. The numbers (and likely the result) would have been better if officials had granted Miller a hotly disputed potential third touchdown pass, a 33-yarder to Matt Aiken with 38 seconds left.
Replay official Joe Rider of the ACC ruled that Aiken never had possession of the sideline pass that he leaped to grab, then stretched over the goal line before losing the ball as he fell in the end zone.
Niumatalolo was still mystified by the ruling Monday. A call to Doug Rhoads, the head of ACC officials, did little to clear up the confusion.
“There was no doubt in my mind that he was in control of the ball. But did he become a runner is what their question was,” Niumatalolo said. “I also asked him if they had ruled it a catch on the field, would they have overturned it. He said, ‘No.’ So I don’t know.”
And with that, Navy’s season of frustration continues. The Mids have lost five straight games, including four by a combined total of eight points. No team in the NCAA has lost four games by as small a margin.
Saturday’s game at Notre Dame represents a big opportunity for Miller and the Mids. Their last two trips to South Bend have produced victories. Last year in the Meadowlands, the Mids throttled the Irish 35-17.
“It’s gonna be huge,” Miller said. “I’m pretty sure Coach is gonna have a good scheme for us. Kriss is gonna help me out a lot also.”
Miller was a spread offense quarterback in high school in Marietta, Ga., and learned the triple option at the Naval Academy Prep School. He showed a strong and accurate arm Saturday. But Navy ran few of the complicated zone reads it typically employs with Proctor under center.
Niumatalolo said he would not pare down the playbook if Miller starts against Notre Dame.
“We can’t limit ourselves, especially against these guys,” Niumatalolo said. “We gotta have our whole arsenal ready.”
