Turning to Proctor was no gamble for Navy

Navy quarterback Kriss Proctor lined his team up in the victory formation, took a knee, then pumped his fist in the air.

As the clocked ticked down to zero in Navy's win over Wake Forest yesterday, the sophomore signal-caller had completed his first career win as a starting quarterback in his first career start.

"I was pumped," he said. "I was yelling to God and thanking him for having me mentally and physically get through this game."

While Proctor's numbers may not remind Navy fans too much of injured first-string quarterback Ricky Dobbs, he did enough to help Navy earn its 14th win over a BCS team since 2003.

Proctor carried 26 times for a career-high 89 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that gave Navy a 13-3 lead. With most of the game being played in a constant downpour, he didn't attempt a pass.

"I thought Kriss played well," Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo said. "In his first start and against one of the better teams in the ACC; hats off to that kid."

Proctor's 40-yard touchdown run did give the Mids a 10-point lead early in the third, but he made a mistake later in the quarter that prevented them from putting the game away.

After the Navy defense forced a Wake Forest punt midway through the third, the Mids drove from their own 33-yard-line and were on the verge of going up, 20-3.

Proctor ran for seven yards to give Navy a first-and-goal at the Wake Forest 1, but fumbled two plays later, and the Demon Deacons recovered and eventually got back in the game.

"I didn't swear at him, but I probably said some things I shouldn't have said to him," Niumatalolo said. "You have to take care of the ball, but to Kriss' credit, we missed that block on the linebacker."

While Navy didn't attempt a pass in a game for the second time in as many years, offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper said the game plan was to open it up some against a Wake Forest defense that came in 71st in the country against the pass.

"Once he found out Ricky wouldn't be playing, Kriss just stayed calm and had a great week of practice," Jasper said. "We actually had planned to throw it a lot more."

Proctor is the second Navy quarterback in as many years to earn a win in his first collegiate start. Dobbs had 124 yards on 25 carries and scored a touchdown in leading Navy to a 16-0 win over Northern Illinois last November. Dobbs had the advantage of coming off the bench in three games prior to his first start, including leading Navy to a pair of wins in relief.

Yesterday's appearance was just the second for Proctor, who scored three touchdowns and ran for 82 yards in Navy's 63-14 win over Rice on Oct. 10.

"For my first collegiate win as a starter being today, it felt so good," he said.

While Dobbs continues to rest his knee and his status for next week's game with Temple remains uncertain, Proctor could get his second straight start with the task of helping Navy become bowl-eligible with the win.

"Despite the fumble, he played very well. I'm very pleased with him," Jasper said. "We have always prided ourselves on having backup quarterbacks who can come in and play."