On Nov. 6, 2004, Penn kicker Derek Zoch had perhaps the finest moment in his young career.
Facing Princeton and down two points with 2:54 remaining in the game, Zoch nailed a 27-yard field goal to give the Quakers a 16-15 lead after a missed try had been called back because of a false start penalty.
Just 2:36 later, Princeton kicker Derek Javarone, then a junior, had perhaps the most disappointing moment of his illustrious career, missing a 41-yard chance and a Tigers victory by mere inches.
For the most part, however, Javarone has encountered nothing but success throughout his career in the Garden State, which last week saw him take over the Ivy League record for career field goals.
As a freshman during the 2002 season, he was immediately thrust into the starter's role. Javarone responded by connecting on nine of 13 attempts, including a career-long 39-yarder against Lafayette.
The Imperial, Pa., native has been improving ever since. Javarone followed his 2002 campaign by hitting 67 percent of his field goals as a sophomore and 72 percent last season.
Throughout his career, Javarone's accuracy has earned him personal accolades and a place in the record books.
Against Dartmouth in 2003, he set a single-game Ivy League mark by making five field goals, three of which were 34-yards or longer.
This success has caused opposing coaches to take note of Javarone and alter their defensive game plans accordingly.
With a strong kicker, "field position becomes even more critical," Penn coach Al Bagnoli said. "You don't want to make it where it comes down to him."
That is exactly what happened last week against Cornell, when Javarone set the career record in the Ancient Eight with his 42nd field goal.
More importantly, however, the 35-yarder was in overtime and clinched a 20-17 Princeton victory, sending the Tigers into a first-place tie.
Javarone wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
"It's more important winning the game. It meant everything to have the team count on me and come through," he said, though he did admit that breaking the record made the game-winner a bit more special.
The successful kick against Cornell and the missed kick against Penn last year illustrate the everything-or-nothing existence of a kicker.
"He didn't miss it by very much -- it wasn't like he shanked it," Bagnoli said of Javarone's try last year. "Unfortunately, you get in that scenario, you're either the hero or the goat. It's tough."
Javarone, however, said the possibility for failure does not even cross his mind before an important kick.
"You could look at it like there's a lot of pressure," he said. "But I don't look at it like that. This is a chance to win the game and help our team."
Though Zoch himself belongs to the small fraternity of kickers and understands the demands on Javarone, the strength of the rivalry between the schools supercedes any compassion for his Princeton counterpart.
"Being that it was against me, I don't feel at all for him," Zoch said. "But say if I were just watching it on TV or something, I might sympathize with him."
Javarone, however, isn't looking for any sympathy this time around, only significant offensive output.
"I'm hoping that we score touchdowns and don't need to kick field goals," he said. "I'd rather kick extra points."
