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Princeton University
San Diego
Players Mentioned
Football Team Jaywalks To 20-17 Win Over San Diego, 2-0 Record
September 24, 2005 | Football
Sept. 24, 2005
Box Score
PRINCETON - All things considered, the University of San Diego will probably be content to never see Jay McCareins again. The senior defensive back, who returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown in Princeton's 24-17 win last season in San Diego, intercepted three passes, including the potential go-ahead throw, and returned one 99 yards for another touchdown in the Tigers' 20-17 win over San Diego Saturday at Princeton Stadium.
"That was one of the best individual games I've ever seen," said defensive coordinator Steve Verbit, who is coaching his 21st season at Princeton. "I've seen three-interception games before, but in terms of a complete game - defense and special teams - it was one of the best I can remember."
McCareins, who returned a pass 75 yards for a touchdown in the season-opening 23-21 win against Lafayette, ended the game with 229 all-purpose yards (69 punt return, 47 kickoff return, 113 interception return) and seven passes defensed (three interceptions, four breakups). No breakup was more exciting or meaningful than the final one, when San Diego had its eyes on the go-ahead score. On 3rd-and-8 at the Princeton 13-yard-line and trailing 13-10, Josh Johnson, the superb sophomore quarterback from San Diego, fired towards the front right corner of the end zone. The play seemed open, but McCareins knew better. He stepped in front of the pass and sprinted down the Princeton sideline for a 99-yard touchdown.
San Diego, which showed no quit after falling into an early hole, would get within three points on a 40-yard touchdown pass to John Matthews with 46 seconds remaining. Having exhausted its timeouts, the Toreros attempted an onsides kick. Fittingly, it ended in McCareins' hands. The Princeton offense never got fully on track, but it put up enough points in the first half to hold up. A two-yard touchdown pass from Jeff Terrell to Jon Dekker and a four-yard quarterback keeper by Bill Foran gave Princeton its 13 points (one extra point went wide left). Those would be the final points Princeton would get until McCareins' 99-yard sprint to victory.
Terrell ended the game 7-for-16 for 80 yards and a touchdown, while Foran completed 5-of-8 for 62 yards. Sophomore fullback Rob Toresco led Princeton in rushing for a second straight week, gaining 53 yards on 11 carries. Dekker tied a career high with five catches, including the first-quarter touchdown pass.
Senior co-captain Justin Stull will end up overshadowed by McCareins, but he led a strong defensive effort with 10 tackles, including two sacks, and one forced fumble. junior J.J. Artis added seven tackles and two pass break-ups, while Nate Starrett had six tackles, including two for losses, and one sack.
After a pair of 3-and-outs to open the game, Princeton got good field position on the second interception of the season by McCareins. San Diego quarterback John Johnson was flushed out right and attempted a lob pass to Nick Garton, but the ball hung up long enough for McCareins to establish position and steal the pass away.
The interception put Princeton at the 43-yard-line, and the Tigers were quick to take advantage. A pair of long runs by Cleo Kirkland and Rob Toresco, and a deep out to Brendan Circle, set the Tigers up inside the 10-yard-line. Kirkland ran up the middle on the first two downs and got Princeton to the 2-yard-line. On 3rd-and-goal, Terrell used play action to draw the defense to Kirkland and found a wide open Jon Dekker in the left side of the end zone. It was Terrell's first career touchdown pass and Dekker's second career touchdown reception.
Following a pair of defensive stands, the Tigers were on the move again, this time with reserve quarterback Bill Foran. He opened the drive with a deep post to Dekker, who brought the Tigers close to midfield. Another play-action pass to Toresco and a tough inside running game got Princeton to 3rd-and-short inside the 5-yard-line. Foran kept on the option and went off left tackle Dave Szelingowski for the touchdown. The extra point by Javarone sailed left, so Princeton held a 13-0 lead seconds into the quarter.
San Diego went on a 7-minute drive to follow, but a critical offensive pass interference call on Adam Hannula pushed San Diego out of the red zone. That penalty would prove costly, as the drive stalled and Hutch Parker barely missed a 39-yard field goal wide left.
Following a 3-and-out, San Diego again attempted to get on the board before halftime, and again the Toreros did it by challenging McCareins. This time, the deep pass was first tipped and then picked off by McCareins, who returned to the Tigers' 21-yard-line. Unfortunately for the Tigers, their drive would end the same way, as a deep out from Terrell was picked off by Josh Brisco inside Princeton territory. San Diego would make sure it took advantage, driving into the red zone before Parker connected on a 34-yard field goal to close out the half.
The Toreros, who entered the game having outscored their opponents 59-0 in the second half, came out quickly in the second half. They forced a Princeton punt at midfield, and then they converted on their first third-down attempt when Johnson hit Hannula on a quick pass in the middle of the field. Hannula turned it upfield and went 51 yards before JJ Artis made the tackle. Two plays later, the same duo connected again in the middle of the field, this time for a 13-yard touchdown pass. The extra point by Parker cut the deficit to 13-10 early in the quarter.
The score would remain that way into the fourth quarter, which opened with another San Diego drive stalled by McCareins. The senior defensive back broke up consecutive passes to force a punt. Terrell opened the ensuing drive with a 21-yard pass to Dekker, who found an opening in the Torero defense and made his way to the Princeton 42-yard-line. The drive stalled at midfield, but it returned the field position advantage to Princeton, which needed its defense to hold strong once again.
Hold strong it did, as the Tigers forced a punt four plays later, and the Tigers took over at midfield, thanks to another solid return by McCareins, who spun his way for an 18-yard return. The defensive showdown continued, as San Diego forced an immediate punt, which Colin McDonough boomed into the end zone.
Johnson rushed for one first down and hit Matt Koller for another one to move the Toreros to the 49-yard-line with 5:27 remaining. Johnson hit Wes Doyle to convert on a fourth down at the Tiger 34-yard-line, and the two connected on another fourth down later in the drive. The Toreros would make it to the 13-yard-line before Johnson's ill-fated pass that ended in McCareins' hands.
Princeton continues its three-week homestand next Saturday at 1 p.m. when the Tigers will open their Ivy League season against the Columbia Lions. The Tigers lead the all-time series 60-13-1, but the last two contests have been classic matchups, both won by the road team on the final play of the game. Two seasons ago, Columbia earned its first win ever at Princeton when Jeff Otis his Wade Fletcher on a 49-yard Hail Mary to pull out a 33-27 win. Last season, Princeton drove 64 yards in 13 plays to force overtime with a 21-yard field goal. McCareins blocked a point-after attempt in overtime, and the Tigers won the game with a Jon Veach touchdown run and an extra point by Javarone.