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Princeton University Athletics
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Football Opens Critical New England Swing With Saturday Showdown At Brown
October 11, 2005 | Football
Oct. 11, 2005
Princeton finished its nonleague season with a 2-1 record. Brown did even better, winning all three of its nonleague games. By Saturday evening, none of those wins will mean a thing to the team that stumbles out of the blocks for the upcoming six-week sprint to the 2005 Ivy League championship.
Both teams know the importance of this weekend's game. Princeton opened its season with an impressive 43-3 victory over Columbia, but the Tigers know they have road games coming up with each of the Ivy League's top three teams from the preseason poll. To open the league road schedule with a win at Brown, which was picked to finish third and is the only team to go 3-0 outside of league play, would be a tremendous springboard into the dangerous second half of the season.
Brown has just as much at stake, if not more. The Bears lost their Ivy League opener at Harvard, but with the Crimson's loss at Cornell last weekend, Brown can regain control of its own destiny with a win against Princeton.
The contest within the contest will likely feature two of the league's top players. While Brown features the No. 1 total offense in the league and can score on you in several ways, the Bears' focal point remains their rugged senior running back, Nick Hartigan. A Walter Payton Award candidate, Hartigan leads the Ivy League with 145.5 yards per game and seven touchdowns.
He will face one of the top rushing defenses in the league, which is led by two-time All-Ivy selection Justin Stull, the Princeton linebacker who leads all Ivy League players in tackles since the 2003 season. Stull is the heart of a linebacking corps that recorded four double-digit tackle performances last weekend against Colgate.
Of course, there are plenty of other matchups to watch. Arguably the best pair of receivers in the league are Brown's Lonnie Hill and Jarrett Schreck, and they will provide a major challenge for Princeton cornerbacks Jay McCareins and J.J. Artis. Those two defenders have combined for more passes defensed than any duo in the league. The Brown defense is led by All-Ivy linebacker Zak DeOssie, who leads the league in sacks per game. He'll be facing an offensive line that has proven tougher than any in the league in terms of protecting the quarterback; Princeton has given up a league-low three sacks this season.
And if you like kickers, this is a dream matchup for you. Brown's Steve Morgan leads Division I-AA with 2.75 field goals per game. Princeton's Derek Javarone, who needs one field goal to break the Tiger career record of 38, is second nationally with 2.25 field goals per game. Within 40 yards this season, that duo is a combined 18-for-18.
Yes, there are plenty of individual matchups to watch, but in the end, the only battle that matters is the one between the teams themselves. The winner will put itself in position to be a prime factor in the league race when the second half of the season begins.
Princeton (3-1, 1-0) vs. Brown (3-1, 0-1)
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Game Notes
Destiny's Child • The winner of Saturday's contest between Princeton and Brown will have control of its own destiny in the Ivy League race. The Tigers would stay perfect in league play with a victory; the Bears, thanks to last weekend's Cornell win against Harvard, will do no worse than a share of the league title if it runs the table.
The Race Is On • Both Princeton and Brown can now focus solely on the Ivy League race. The two teams, who combined to go 5-1 against non-league rivals, will play their final six games against Ivy League opponents.
Poll Position • Brown was picked third in the Ivy League preseason poll, the highest spot for any team outside of the recent powers, Penn and Harvard. Princeton was picked to finish sixth.
Mirror Images • Princeton and Brown are entering their 2005 meeting in the exact same manner they entered the 2004 contest. Princeton started 3-0, 1-0 in the Ivy League, before losing its final nonleague game to Colgate. Brown won all its nonleague games and lost only a late heartbreaker in its Ivy League opener against Harvard.
Home Sweet Home • The home team has won six of the last seven meetings between Brown and Princeton. The lone exception was a 34-14 Princeton win at Brown in 2003, a game that featured an NCAA record 99-yard touchdown pass from Matt Verbit to Clinton Wu.
Grounded • Two of the strongest units in the Ivy League will go head-to-head on Saturday. The Brown rushing attack, led by Ivy League rushing leader and Walter Payton candidate Nick Hartigan, is ranked second in the league and averages 206.5 yards per game. The Princeton rushing defense is also ranked second in the league and has limited its opponents to 98.8 yards per game.
Point, Counterpoint • Dating back to last season, Brown has averaged 36.8 points in its last five games. Over that same stretch, the Princeton defense has allowed an average of 13.2 points per game.
Justin Time • The leader of that Princeton defense is senior co-captain Justin Stull, who recorded his 17th career game with at least 10 tackles in the 16-10 loss to Colgate. Stull was named to the Ivy League honor roll after recording 13 tackles, one forced fumble, one pass breakup and one sack.
Silver Anniversary • Justin Stull will be making his 25th straight start this weekend. Since that streak started, he has made 255 tackles. The next closest active player in the Ivy League is Dartmouth's Josh Dooley, who enters this weekend with 176 career stops.
Jaywalking • Senior defensive back Jay McCareins, the National and Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week after a three-interception effort against San Diego, recorded his Ivy League-best fifth interception last weekend against Colgate. McCareins, whose 1.25 interceptions per game is the best in Division I-AA and who enters the Brown game with 14 career interceptions, also currently leads the league in passes defensed (12).
Jaywalking II • Princeton is 10-7 in its last 17 Ivy League games that Jay McCareins has started. It is also 9-2 in games he records an interception, including 5-1 in Ivy League games.
Jaywalking III • Eight of Jay McCareins' 14 career interceptions have come in the fourth quarter of games Princeton would go to win. Of those eight, the last five have come in the final five minutes of potential game-winning drives.
Tim-ber • In his last game at Brown, safety Tim Strickland put on a performance that would earn him Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors. He made nine tackles, including four solo stops, and recorded four pass break-ups, including his first career interception.
With Honors • Tim Strickland isn't the only current Tiger who earned an Ivy League honor after that 34-14 Princeton win at Brown in 2003. Linebacker Justin Stull earned Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week honors after making 15 tackles (nine solo) and forcing a fumble.
'Backing Them Up • Four Princeton linebackers recorded double-digit tackle performances last weekend against Colgate. Justin Stull led all players with 13 tackles, while nickel linebacker Nate Starrett recorded 11. Seniors Rob Holuba and Abi Fadeyi both recorded 10 apiece. It was the first time in 11 games that at least four players had 10 tackles apiece (Columbia, 2004).
Hunt For Red October • Princeton is the only Ivy League team with a 100% success rate in the red zone. The Tigers have entered their opponents' 20-yard-line 15 times this season and have scored seven touchdowns and kicked eight field goals. In comparison, Princeton had a 78% success rate last season.
Making Them See Red • Both Brown and Princeton have been strong defensively inside the red zone. Brown is tied for first in the Ivy League with a 37.5% success rate on defense, while Princeton ranks just behind in third with a 36.4% success rate.
Just For Kicks • Princeton placekicker Derek Javarone tied the Princeton career record for field goals when he made his 38th career kick last weekend against Colgate. The kick tied him with Taylor Northrop '02 and leaves him three behind Penn's Jason Feinberg '01 for the Ivy League record.
Just For Kicks II • Two of the nation's top placekickers will meet this weekend in Providence. Brown's Steve Morgan leads the nation with 2.75 field goals per game, while Derek Javarone ranks second in the nation with 2.25 field goals per game.
Just For Kicks III • Princeton punter Colin McDonough, a two-time all-league selection, leads the Ivy League and ranks 15th nationally with a 41.5-yard-per-punt average.
Sack Exchange • Thanks mostly to a senior offensive line, Princeton has given up fewer sacks (3) than any team in the Ivy League. The projected starting offensive line of Ben Brielmaier, Paul Lyons, Andy Aurich, Andrew Wilson and Dave Szelingowski has combined for 82 total starts for Princeton entering this weekend's game at Brown.
Raising Ivy • The Princeton offense played its finest game in years during the 2005 Ivy League opener against Columbia. The Tigers gained 536 yards of total offense, controlled the ball for 40:12 and scored on nine of its first 10 possessions in a 43-3 victory over Columbia. The 40-point win was Princeton's best since a 41-0 win over Lafayette in 1995, the Tigers' last Ivy championship season.
Fields Of Dreams •Senior wide receiver recorded his first career touchdown reception on a 34-yard pass last weekend against Colgate. Fields had scored three touchdowns last season, but all came on rushes.
Balance Beam • Princeton has recorded 68 first downs this season. Besides the three that came on penalties, 33 were gained on rushes and 32 were gained on passes.
Time Is On My Side, Or Theirs • Princeton has had either more than 35 minutes of possession time or less than 25 minutes of possession time in each of its four games this season. It had a high of 40:12 against Columbia and a low of 21:10 against San Diego. The Tigers won both games.
What's The Frequency, Kenneth • Princeton football returns to WHWH 1350 AM this year, with Ed Benkin (play-by-play) and Dan Loney (color) providing commentary. All audio broadcasts will also be available online at www.GoPrincetonTigers.com. WPRB 103.3 FM also plans to broadcast all Princeton football games this season.
Are You Sirius? • SIRIUS Satellite Radio, the nation's premier provider of live professional and collegiate sports events and sports talk on satellite radio, and the Ivy League have announced a multi-year agreement to broadcast a "Game of the Week" for football and men's basketball, plus a select number of men's hockey and other games from across the Ivy League sports landscape, on SIRIUS throughout the season.
Lights, Camera, Action • Princeton will have at least one football game televised by the YES Network in 2005 as the Tigers welcome the Cornell Big Red on Saturday, Oct. 29 at noon. Princeton's season finale at Dartmouth on Nov. 19 could also be televised as the Ivy League and the network left the final date open to choose a contest with Ivy-title implications. The YES Network is available to viewers in New York, Connecticut, and large parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The YES Network is also available nationally to DIRECTV subscribers who have the "SPORTS Pack," one of the provider's premium services. The YES Network airs on DIRECTV's channel 622. All home games can be seen locally on Patriot Media TV.
The Crystal Ball • Princeton will return to New England next weekend to face Harvard Oct. 22 at 12:30. Princeton has lost nine straight games to the defending Ivy League champion, including a 43-40 overtime thriller the last time the two teams met in Cambridge, Mass. The Crimson, who face Lafayette this weekend, saw its nine-game Ivy League win streak end last weekend in a 27-13 loss at Cornell. The game can be heard live on WHWH 1350 AM or www.GoPrincetonTigers.com.
Last Year: Princeton 24, Brown 10
Box Score">Box Score
The Princeton football team improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the Ivy League when it earned a 24-10 win over the Brown Bears at Princeton Stadium in front of 11,982 home fans. The Tigers outscored Brown 14-0 in the final quarter, highlighted by a 50-yard touchdown pass from Matt Verbit to Brian Shields.
Verbit, who completed passes to a season-best nine receivers, threw for 147 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. His effort moved him past Jason Garrett into second place on the all-time passing and all-time total yards list. Ironically, the two would be linked again within a few months; Verbit was invited to the Miami Dolphins' mini-camp, where Garrett serves as the quarterbacks coach.
Zak Keasey led the defense with 14 tackles, including two for loss, one sack and one interception. The two-time All-Ivy linebacker finished the game tied for the Ivy League lead in tackles with Justin Stull with 59 apiece. The defensive line and linebackers helped limit Nick Hartigan, who entered the game averaging 138.5 rushing yards per game, to 66 yards.
Princeton, which entered the game as the most penalized team in the Ivy League, didn't have a single penalty outside of a kickoff that went out of bounds. The offensive line opened holes for both Jon Veach (75 yards, one TD) and Branden Benson (48 yards, one TD), and allowed Verbit time to go 13-for-15.
The special teams were led by the efforts of Greg Fields and Colin McDonough, each of whom made key plays in the win. Following a Brown touchdown that put Princeton behind 7-3, Fields returned a kickoff 77 yards that set up the touchdown by Veach. With Princeton ahead 24-10 in the fourth quarter, McDonough, who was standing in his own end zone, leaped high to catch the snap and got off a 55-yard punt to keep the Bears out of great field position.
Tale of the Tape
Brown Princeton 37.8 Points Per Game 24.0 22.5 Points Allowed Per Game 14.2 83 First Downs 68 41/36/6 Rushing/Passing/Penalty 33/32/3 206.5 Rushing Yardage Per Game 156.5 11 Touchdowns Rushing 6 245.2 Passing Yardage Per Game 181.0 118/64/5 Att./Comp./Int. 111/59/5 6 Touchdowns Passing 2 25/58.0 Penalties/Yards Per Game 32/76.8 16/33.4 Punts/Avg. Per Punt 19/41.5 30:50 Time of Possession 30:17 12/59 Sacks By/Yardage 8 for 33 4/1 Fumbles/Fumbles Lost 7/2 11/13 Field Goals/Attempts 9/9 25 for 62 (40%) Third-Down Conversions 20 for 53 (38%)