The Harvard varsity B team's offense sputtered in the first half, then broke down completely in the second as undefeated Yale, plugging away at the Crimson defense, notched nine points in the last three minutes to win yesterday, 12-0.

Harvard quarterback George Lalich got three drives going before Yale scored, but each one fizzled when Tom Wynne missed long field goal attempts, from 45, 44, and 45 yards out.

Those were the only Crimson threats. After Butch Vance booted a 23-yard field goal to put the Blue ahead midway through the second quarter, Lalich couldn't get his team moving.

Linebacker Jerry Marino directed a savage Harvard defense that kept Yale away from the goal line until late in the game. The Blue had trouble moving up the middle and in the air. But quarterback Greg Lawler was flawless on rollout option plays. Forcing the cornerbacks to keep their distance, Lawler would pick up consistent yardage around the ends.

Marino Stars

Still, when it counted, Marino's forces stopped the Blue. On a key fourth-down play in the third quarter at the Crimson 20, the powerful sophomore stormed in to dump Lawler for a seven-yard loss.

Another Yale drive -- this one led by reserve quarterback Billy Gails -- moved to the Crimson 18 with about three minutes to play. There, with third down and eight to go, Gails dropped back to pass and Harvard linemen were all over him.

Gails, trying to allude Jim Moses and Bob Panoff, ran all the way back to the 40, 22 yards behind the line. Hit hard, and nearly on his back, he winged an amazing pass to halfback, Bob Sokolowski in the end zone. Sokolowski was covered closely by two Crimson defenders, but he leapt high into the air and came down with the ball for an incredible catch.

Vance kicked the conversion to give the Blue a 10-0 lead. But Yale wasn't through. Lawler came back in the game and led his team to the one. With a few seconds left in the game, fullback John Mauck hit the center of the Harvard line and fumbled.

The Crimson had just one play to make up the deficit. Quarterback Paul Masitried to pass and was snowed under in a mass of blue jerseys. The ball popped out of his arms and out of the end zone for a safety to end the game.

The B team finished a mediocre season with a 4-4 record, which included wins over Northeastern, Columbia, Penn, and B.U.'s freshmen.