Author:
John Harvard (Closing Strong)
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Date Posted: 13:14:51 11/18/24 Mon
As others have said, there are no bad teams in Ivy League Football this season.
I am writing in particular about how 8-1 Harvard has been challenged by strong competition all season, and is fortunate to be where it is.
Other than Stetson (Game 1: 35-0), Columbia (Game 8: 26-6), and an uncharacteristically disappointing Princeton (Game 6: 45-13). The Crimson have won some close games.
Game 2: Brown (L 28-31): outgained 406-299, Harvard is set up for victory with a 5 point lead and the ball on the Brown 9 yard less with less than a minute remaining. A long snap well over everyone’s head which Brown scoops and carries almost 50 yards is followed by a last second TD pass. Crimson could easily be 9-0, or not.
Game 3: UNH (W 28-23): Trailing 16-14 at the half, Harvard narrowly pulls it out, running out the clock on a long drive to seal the win. Stats are relatively even though, as Harvard’s Jaden Craig only throws for 204 yards on 10-23. UNH is currently a strong 7-4.
Game 4: Cornell (W 38-20): Trailing 14-10, the Crimson score 4 consecutive touchdowns. This is Craig’s breakout game (20-27 316 yds, 4 tds). Cornell still gains over 300 yards.
Game 5: Holy Cross (W 35-34): After Harvard leads 27-7, HC takes the lead with 1:44 remaining 27-28. Craig to Barkate with 45 seconds left could have won the game at 35-28, but HC scores with no time left on the clock before unsuccessfully going for two.
Game 7: Dartmouth (W 31-27): Trailing by 10 in the 4th quarter, DePrima runs it in twice, including the game winner with 27 seconds remaining.
Game 9: Penn (W 31-28): Trailing 21-7 in the third quarter and 28-21 in the fourth quarter, DePrima leads the comeback with Craig injured, scoring with 7 minutes left. Harvard FG with no time left is the winner because Penn missed a FG just two minutes earlier.
So, although the Crimson could easily be 9-0, or, 5-4 but for three 4th quarter comebacks.
Yale’s offense has been just as potent as Harvard’s, with 98 points in the past two games and at least 38 points in 5 of its 9 contests. Expect seniors DePrima and McLaughlin to be featured.
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