Senior quarterback Zach MacDowall was active in practice Tuesday for Coastal Carolina after sustaining what is being termed a concussion in the third quarter Saturday against Stony Brook.
MacDowall had said Monday night that he felt fine after banging the back of his head on the ground while trying to stretch into the end zone. The collision temporarily affected his vision and forced him out of the game, but he has obviously been cleared to return to non-contact action.
With his return to the field Tuesday and with sophomore backup quarterback Aramis Hillary ailing with a bruised throwing elbow sustained in the game, it seems likely -- though not officially decided yet -- that MacDowall will get the start this weekend at Gardner-Webb.
"He did OK. He threw the ball a little bit better. His head's fine," CCU offensive coordinator Kevin Brown said Tuesday after practice. "I think he's going to be OK."
As for Brown's expectation for Saturday?
"We'll see what happens this week. Both of them are kind of banged up," Brown said of the quarterbacks. "... We'll see how they practice, and we've got a little package for [Jamie] Childers, so we'll have all three of them in the mix."
Brown was not certain if MacDowall had any more medical tests to pass to be cleared for game action this week. But health aside, he also acknowledged that there is a performance aspect to MacDowall's hold on the job going forward.
The senior three-year starter struggled Saturday, completing 13-of-24 passes for 103 yards and an interception while also losing a costly fumble in the second quarter. MacDowall has started all seven games this season while completing 58.3-percent of his passes for 1,251 yards, nine touchdowns and nine interceptions.
"It depends on what happens this week," Brown said. "Zach's been here for three years. We're hoping he takes control of it again, but if not, you know, if he's still banged up or limited in any way, we've got confidence in Hillary and Jamie. ...
"It's still Zach's to lose. He's been a three-year starter for us, so it's still his to lose unless something just dramatic happens these next two days of practice."
In the bigger picture, it seems the coaching staff would not hesitate to turn to Hillary later in the season if MacDowall were to struggle.
Hillary, an offseason transfer from South Carolina, had only thrown four collegiate passes before completing 9-of-21 passes for 100 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in relief of MacDowall on Saturday.
He hurt his elbow scoring a late rushing touchdown when a Stony Brook player fell on his arm, Brown said. He's on a "pitch count" in practice this week.
"Aramis is starting to learn a little bit more," Brown said. "He said it was a little bit hectic for him Saturday. [He] felt like he wasn't prepared enough, and I think he kind of took a little disappointment in that. He's really been in the film room these last two days and really busted his tail to try to get caught back up."
| Ryan Young, ryoung@thesunnews.com
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