McCareins Named Ivy League Special Teams Player Of The Week

Oct. 4, 2004

PRINCETON - The toughest decision was almost choosing which award to nominate him for. Junior Jay McCareins was named the Ivy League Special Teams Player of the Week after blocking two key kicks in the 27-26 overtime win.

McCareins, a starting defensive back who returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown two weeks ago against San Diego, did it all against Columbia. Defensively, he made three tackles and was part of a defensive backfield that limited talented Columbia quarterback Jeff Otis to a mere 98 yards passing.

Offensively, McCareins was used as a wide receiver when Princeton needed him most. Trailing 20-17 late, the Tigers drove 64 yards to set up a 21-yard chip shot for Derek Javarone to force overtime. On the drive, McCareins caught three passes: one for 13 yards on 4th and 5, one on third down to get Princeton in potential field goal range and another to move the Tigers inside the Columbia red zone. For all that, it was his heroics on special teams that earned him his first Ivy League weekly award. Besides averaging 27.5 yards per kickoff return, McCareins blocked a field goal in regulation and an extra point in overtime to provide the Tigers their margin for victory. On both blocks, he came around the right side of the line with the assistance of linebacker Abi Fadeyi, who opened his lane both times with an inside charge. McCareins' overtime block allowed the touchdown by Jon Veach and extra point by Derek Javarone to win the game for Princeton.

McCareins has eight career interceptions and was an All-Ivy selection in 2002. Princeton has seven of its last 10 Ivy League games that McCareins has played in.

The Tigers (3-0) travel to Hamilton, N.Y., this weekend to face Colgate (2-2) in their final nonleague game of the season.

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