Although Yovicsin had hoped to pass against Princeton in an effort to loosen up their defense, Mike Bassett used basic running plays most of the time. On the few occasions he did fade to pass the Crimson line dissipated, leaving Bassett to stare forlornly into four or five determined Tiger faces.
The drizzle that came down throughout the first half did not seem to dappen competitive spirits, but it did hamper ball handling. For a pleasant change, it was not Harvard that suffered from fumblitis, however. On several important occasions Princeton killed its own motion with bobbles, usually committed on the snap. The Crimson, which has suffered chronic difficulty in holding the ball, fumbled but once in the half, and on that occasion Harvard recovered.
Punts, while few, were quite important in the half. Don McKay got Princeton out of trouble with a powerful 65-yard quick-kick, and the Crimson's Van Oudenallen averaged 44.5 yards on two kicks.
Jerry Mechling opened the second half with a low kick past the end zone. Iacavazzl gained six yards on the first play from scrimmage, but that was it for the Tigers on that seires.
Scott Harshbarger, handling the football better than at any other time in his career, scooped up a bouncing punt and charged seven yards up to his own 48-yard line.
Realizing Harshbarger was hot, Bassett gave him the ball on the first Harvard play of the second half and Scott proceeded to carry two Tigers with him on an eight yard dash. Bill Grana gained the first down with two short runs, and once again it was Harshbarger's turn.
Harvard ground out yardage in this fashion for another minute or two. Then Bassett said some magic word, and the entire middle of the Tiger line stepped aside and former a corridor for the Crimson quarterback to dash through. The defensive secondary closed in, 13 yards downfield on the Princeton 15, Harshbarger then tried another of his off-tackle specialties and gained eight yards.
Princeton finally removed its zero from the scoreboard in the fourth quarter. The 93-yard drive late in the third period after a 44-yard Van Oudenallen punt placed the Tigers deep in their own territory.
Two times Iacavazzi tried his famous leap over the line, and twice a ready band of Crimson men stopped him in mid air and threw him back vigorously. On the third time, however, Iacavazzi just barely crossed the goal and an eager referee signalled touchdown. Charlie Gogolak kicked the extra point and Princeton was back in the game trailing only by a score of 14-7.
Momenta later with handkerchiefs waving wildly Harvard's Grana ran across the goal line for the touchdown. Hartranft's kick made it 21-7.