Lumberton, N.J., native also named a BSN Division II Athlete of the Week
EASTON, Mass. (November 17, 2011) – Stonehill College junior defensive back Jareed Gaines (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) has earned Defensive Player of the Week honors from both the Northeast-10 Conference as well as Beyond Sports College Network for his efforts in the Skyhawks 28-23 victory at Assumption College to close out the 2011 season on Saturday.
Gaines, who earns both honors for the first time this season (third career NE-10 award), filled the stat sheet for Stonehill on Saturday with 11 tackles (six solo), including 2.0 for a loss of 16 yards, a sack for a loss of 12, a forced fumble, fumble recovery, pass break up and interception that he returned 82 yards for a touchdown. The touchdown put the Skyhawks in front 21-16 with 6:48 to play in the third quarter. He also forced and recovered a fumble on a sack for a loss of 12 on third down and 11 from the Stonehill 42 on the ensuing drive after taking the lead on a 64 yard punt return by senior All-American Stephan Neville (Foxborough, Mass./Foxborough).
Gaines is the third Stonehill defensive player to be named a Division II Athlete of the Week by beyondsportsnetwork.com. Juniors Kevin Anderson (Topsfield, Mass./Masconomet) and Raymond Bass (Canton, Mass./Canton) both were named to the website's weekly awards list following the Skyhawks games at Bryant University (October 8) and Saint Anselm College (November 5), respectively.
Gaines finished the season with a team-best 97 tackles (46 solo) – the eighth highest single season total in program history. He also led Stonehill with 10.0 tackles for a loss of 38 yards, including 3.0 sacks for a loss of 20, two interceptions, three pass breakups, three quarterback hurries, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and two blocked kicks. Gaines led the NE-10 in fumble recoveries for the second-straight year (18th nationally) and also ranks second in blocked kicks, fourth for tackles (32nd), sixth in forced fumbles and seventh in solo tackles.
Gaines has played 29 of a possible 31 games over his career at Stonehill and has totaled 209 tackles (104 solo), including 27.0 for a loss of 96 yards, eight sacks, seven QB hurries, three interceptions, eight fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles, nine pass breakups and six blocked kicks. He has scored three defensive touchdowns over his career, adding two on fumble returns to his interception return on Saturday. Gaines was the NE-10 Co-Freshman of the Year in 2009, also earning a spot on the All-Rookie team, and led all of Division II with five fumble recoveries.
Stonehill posted back-to-back wins to close out the 2011 season, finishing with a 4-7 record overall, including a 3-5 clip in Northeast-10 play to place sixth in the Conference standings.