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Princeton University Athletics
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Undefeated Records, Recent Thrillers Dominate Ivy Football Opener Storylines
September 27, 2005 | Football
Sept. 27, 2005
PRINCETON - It would be tough to ask for much more from the first two games of the 136th season of Princeton Tiger football. The Tigers won both games with dramatic fourth quarters, one won by the offense and one won by the defense.
Both were dramatic and both were exciting.
And neither will mean as much as what happens on the field Saturday at 1 p.m. (WPRB 103.3 FM, www.GoPrincetonTigers.com). After all, there are seven games that mean just a little more, and those seven Ivy League games begin this weekend for both Princeton and Columbia.
Both teams come in with renewed optimism in a season few predicted much success. Princeton was picked to finish sixth in the preseason Ivy League poll, and that was two spots higher than Columbia's final destination.
And yet, one of these teams will begin their season with a 3-0 record.
Furthermore, if you thought the first two games of this season have been exciting, you need to check out the recent history of this rivalry. The last two games have been decided on the final play, and the last three games have been decided by a grand total of 10 points.
Buckle up, folks. The Ivy League season begins today, and stage one should be a wild ride.
Columbia (2-0, 0-0) vs. Princeton (2-0, 0-0) Game Notes
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Game Notes
Dynamic Duo • The last five times Princeton has started a season 2-0, the Tigers have won their third game. Last season was the most recent example, as the Tigers rallied for a 27-26 overtime win at Columbia. Out of the Gates • In the last 14 years, only once has an eventual Ivy League champion lost its league opener. That team was 1999 co-champion Yale, which lost its opener to the other league champion, Brown.
Saving The Best For Last • The last two Princeton-Columbia games have been decided on the game's final play. Two seasons ago, Columbia won on a 49-yard Hail Mary with no time remaining in regulation. Last season, Princeton rallied to force overtime and won it on a Jon Veach touchdown and a Derek Javarone extra point in overtime.
Road Sweet Road • The road team has won the last three games in this rivalry. Columbia's win in 2003 was its first win ever in Princeton.
Four Score • Princeton has won four of its last five Ivy League openers, all of which have come against Columbia.
Playing the Percentages • Princeton has a better winning percentage against Columbia (60-13-1, 81.8%) than it does against any other Ivy League squad.
Ruining The Run • The last time Columbia faced Princeton with an undefeated record was 1996, when the Lions hosted the Tigers with a 6-0 record. Princeton pulled off the 14-11 road upset that year.
This One Will Be Different • The last time Princeton and Columbia met with matching undefeated records was 1972, when Princeton was 1-0 following a 7-6 win over Rutgers and Columbia was 1-0 following a 44-0 win over Fordham. Both teams stayed undefeated, thanks to a 0-0 tie.
The Defense Doesn't Rest • Today's game features the No. 1 and No. 3 scoring defenses in the Ivy League. Columbia is tops in the Ivy League having allowed only 15.0 points per game in its two wins. Princeton isn't far behind, allowing 19.0 points per game.
Consistency Counts • Columbia has scored 23 points in both of its games this season. Princeton scored 23 points in its first game and 20 in its most recent game.
I'm Honored • Senior defensive back Jay McCareins was named the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week after a brilliant individual effort last weekend against San Diego. He recorded a team-record- tying three interceptions, four other pass breakups, four tackles and 229 all-purpose yards (69 punt return, 47 kickoff return, 113 interception return). He returned his final interception 99 yards for a touchdown.
More Honors • Jay McCareins was also named the national co-Defensive Player of the Week by the Sports Network. He shared the honor with Idaho State linebacker Pago Togafau.
Last Honors • The other Ivy League player to earn National Player of the Week honors was Columbia placekicker/punter Jon Rocholl, who hit field goals of 40 and 46 yards in the third quarter to tie the score 6-6, then added a 22-yarder early in the fourth to give the Lions the lead for good.
Third Time's A Charm • Columbia and Princeton are the most effective teams in the Ivy League on third downs. Columbia leads the league with a 41.2 conversion rate on third downs (14 of 34). Princeton ranks slightly behind the Lions, having converted on 40.7 percent (11 of 27).
Third Time's Not So Charming • Columbia and Princeton are also the stingiest teams in the Ivy League against third downs. Columbia leads the league with a 14.3 conversion rate against third downs (4 of 28). Princeton is second at 20.7 percent (6 of 29).
Jaywalking I • Princeton is 9-1 all-time in games when Jay McCareins records an interception.
Jaywalking II • 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.
Jaywalking III • Jay McCareins is currently ranked third nationally with 186.5 all-purpose yards per game, and he is the only player in that Top 20 that does not have a single yard rushing or receiving this season.
Jaywalking IV • Jay McCareins' performance marked the 14th time that a Princeton player recorded three interceptions in a game; the last player to do it was junior Tim Strickland, who recorded three interceptions last season at Colgate.
Justin Time • Senior linebacker Justin Stull has recorded 16 double-digit tackle games in 22 career starts. In the 20-17 win over San Diego, Stull made 10 tackles, including nine solo stops, and he recorded his ninth and 10th career sacks.
On Dek • Senior tight end Jon Dekker caught his second career touchdown pass, and the first thrown by quarterback Jeff Terrell, on a 2-yard play-action pass against San Diego. It was Dekker's first score in a span of 15 games. He also led Princeton with five catches in the game, and he is one of three team leaders averaging 3.5 receptions per game (Brendan Circle and Rob Toresco).
Dollar Bill • Sophomore quarterback Bill Foran scored his first career touchdown on a 4-yard option that he ran in off tackle Ben Brielmaier.
Playing From Ahead • Princeton has not trailed at any point in its first two games this season.
Half and Half • The Princeton defense has not allowed a first-half touchdown this season, and the Columbia offense has not scored a first-half touchdown this season.
Just For Kicks • Two-time All-Ivy punter Colin McDonough leads the Ivy League with 43.6 yards per punt. He is ranked eighth nationally.
Return To Sender • The combination of Greg Fields and Jay McCareins has helped Princeton rank as the top punt return team in the Ivy League. The Tigers average 15.5 yards per punt return.
Tackling The Issue • Justin Stull has 244 career tackles. He needs 71 to tie Aaron Harris '93 for second on the Princeton all-time list and 108 to tie David Patterson '96 for first.
Seventh Heaven • Senior placekicker Derek Javarone was 3-for-3 on field goals in the season opener, including a critical 37-yard kick in the fourth quarter. He needs seven more to be Princeton's all-time leader in field goals made (Taylor Northrop '02, 38).
Zak Attacks the NFL • Linebacker Zak Keasey, who led the Ivy League with 127 tackles last season, made the Washington Redskins roster as an undrafted free agent and played on special teams for the Redskins in their 9-7 season-opening win over Chicago.
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 play its final non-league game next weekend when it hosts Colgate at 1 p.m. The Tigers lost a heartbreaker in Hamilton, N.Y., last year, as the Raiders overcame a late 26-14 deficit with a pair of touchdowns in a 29-26 victory.
Last Year: Princeton 27, Columbia 26 (ot)
Box Score
Jay McCareins is known as one of the premier defensive players in the Ivy League. But it was his offensive and special teams contributions that gave the Princeton football team a thrilling 27-26 overtime comeback win over Columbia on Homecoming Saturday at Wien Stadium. Princeton sent its Ivy opener into overtime on a 64-yard drive in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter and won it on a Jon Veach touchdown and an extra point by Derek Javarone in overtime.
A 4-yard touchdown run by Ayo Oluwole with 2:11 remaining in regulation gave Columbia a 20-17 lead. From there, quarterback Matt Verbit engineered the most important drive of his career. Princeton moved 64 yards on 13 plays, including three passes to McCareins, and Javarone sent the game to overtime with a 21-yard field goal with five seconds left. Columbia went up 26-20 in overtime on a 17-yard touchdown run by Rashad Biggers, but Nick Rudd's extra point attempt was blocked by McCareins, who had blocked a field goal earlier in the game.
Princeton then gained five yards on three plays to bring up another fourth down with the game on the line. Verbit dropped back and avoided a sack off a blitz from the right side, bought himself time and took off down the right side. He got the first down and, instead of going out of bounds, cut inside and drove a defender to the 2-yard line. Two plays later, Veach went off the left side of the line to even the score at 26, and Javarone ended the contest with the point-after attempt.
Justin Stull and Zak Keasey combined to lead the Princeton defense with 13 tackles apiece. It was the ninth straight game Stull had at least 10 tackles. J.J. Artis and Alan Borelli both had 12 tackles, while Chris Browne had eight tackles and two sacks. Princeton held Columbia to 98 yards passing during the contest.
Following a scoreless first quarter, Branden Benson put Princeton ahead 7-0 with a touchdown in the second quarter. Columbia would get its first lead on Biggers' first touchdown of the day, but a four-yard run by Veach with 7:31 remaining opened a 17-13 lead and set up the dramatic conclusion.
Tale of the Tape
Columbia Princeton 23.0 Points Per Game 21.5 15.0 Points Allowed Per Game 19.0 36 First Downs 29 10/20/6 Rushing/Passing/Penalty 12/14/3 87.5 Rushing Yardage Per Game 110.0 0 Touchdowns Rushing 2 205.0 Passing Yardage Per Game 169.5 68/38/1 Att./Comp./Int. 53/31/4 3 Touchdowns Passing 1 13/115 Penalties/Yards 12/132 10/32.7 Punts/Avg. Per Punt 11/43.5 31:40 Time of Possession 28:23 6/32 Sacks By/Yardage 3/10 6/4 Fumbles/Fumbles Lost 1/0 6/7 Field Goals/Attempts 3/3 14 of 34 (41%) Third-Down Conversions 11 of 27 (41%)