Mackie, Scott Pick Up Weekly Ivy Football Awards

HANOVER, N.H. — The Ivy League office announced their first weekly award winners for the 2021 football season this afternoon with Dartmouth linebacker Jalen Mackie earning Defensive Player of the Week and wide receiver Paxton Scott being named the Rookie of the Week. The duo played a large part in the Big Green winning their season opener on the road at Valparaiso on Saturday, 28-18.

Mackie, a 6-1, 240-pound senior from Miramar, Florida, led the Dartmouth defense with a dozen stops — two more than he had in his career entering the game — including two critical tackles for a loss on 3rd-and-short situations that forced the Beacons to punt. His biggest play, however, came in the fourth quarter with Valparaiso driving and trailing by only three points when Mackie picked off a pass near midfield and returned it 28 yards to the Beacons 25. Two plays later, the Big Green pushed into the end zone for some breathing room and what turned out to be the game's final score.

Making his collegiate debut thanks to the pandemic eradicating his freshman season, Scott quickly became the go-to receiver, hauling in eight passes for 87 yards and a touchdown. The 6-1, 185-pound wide receiver from Dallas, Texas, helped Dartmouth get on track with the first two receptions of the game to jump start Dartmouth's first touchdown drive for a 7-5 lead the Green never relinquished. His 6-yard scoring snare in the second quarter allowed Dartmouth to take a 14-8 advantage into halftime as well.

Earning a spot on the league's honor roll was fifth-year senior quarterback Derek Kyler, who was his usual efficient self, completing 15-of-22 passes for 177 yards and three touchdowns.

Dartmouth (1-0) next plays host to Sacred Heart (2-1) on Saturday, Sept. 25 at 1:30 p.m. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Matt Corsetti and Matt Goldstein calling the action, and a free audio stream will also be available through the DarmouthSports.com website featuring Brett Franklin and Wayne Young '72 on the mic.

Note: The Big Green had four defensive players of the week in the 2019 season, but this is the first rookie of the week for Dartmouth since place kicker Connor Davis picked up the honor three years ago.

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