No comeback needed this time. The last time Harvard and Yale brought 6-0 league records into the season finale to decide the Ivy title was 1968, the now infamous game in which the Crimson came back from 16 points down with four minutes to play to “beat” the Bulldogs (the game ended in a 29-29 tie).
This year’s installment of The Game was no less shocking for Yale (9-1, 6-1). Harvard (8-2, 7-0) bolted to a 7-0 lead and never looked back in a 37-6 domination before a crowd of 57,248 at the Yale Bowl.
Senior quarterback Chris Pizzotti had a career day, going 27-41 for 316 yards and four touchdowns. On their first possession, Pizzotti rolled out to his right and hit Matt Luft for a 40 yard score. He would find Luft, who finished with 8 catches for 160 yards, later in the 1st quarter on a 33-yard scoring play to make it a 13-0.
Miscues by the Bulldogs in the second quarter allowed Harvard to build a commanding 27-0 halftime lead. The first came on a 4th and 2 from the Harvard 40 when Mike Mcleod slipped at the line of scrimmage, giving the ball back to the Crimson, who would march 60 yards and score on a 1-yard plunge by Cheng Ho. Yale would then go three and out on their next possession. A bad snap on the punt gave Harvard the ball back at the 15, and on the very next play Pizzotti threw a strike to a falling Mike Cook at the goal-line for his third touchdown pass of the half.
The extent of Yale’s futility is perhaps what was most surprising about this game. The Bulldogs came into the game with a record of 9-0, led the nation in scoring defense, ranked second in turnover margin and fourth in rushing offense. They were the clear favorites. Yet the Crimson dominated on both sides of the ball – amassing 434 yards of total offense and limiting Yale to just 109 yards and 6 first downs. Harvard controlled the ball for over 37 minutes compared to 22 for Yale.
Running Back Mike McLeod came into the game as the leading rusher in the Football Championship Subdivision, averaging 174 yards per game and breaking several Ivy League rushing records. The junior Payton Award candidate was relegated to non-factor status. Harvard’s defense, which had not allowed a 100-yard rushing performance by any individual running back all season, held McLeod to 50 yards on 20 carriers.
The lone highlight for the home team came with 4:15 remaining when freshman WR Gio Christodoulou returned a punt 87 yards to avoid the shutout. Prior to that, Harvard had extended its lead to 37-0 on a 3rd quarter field goal and a 5-yard TD toss from Pizzotti to tight end Jason Miller to start the 4th quarter.
Yale, the Ivy League’s all-time leader in football victories, was looking for its first undefeated season in 47 years and back-to-back Ivy titles.
By denying them, Harvard claimed its 12th Ivy League Championship, and Coach Tim Murphy’s fourth in 14 seasons. The upset also represents the fourth time since 1968 that Harvard has spoiled a bid by Yale at a perfect season.
Let the rivalry continue.
