Harvard's varsity "B" football squad nearly fumbled the game away yesterday against Northeastern's JV. But Crimson cornerback Mike Ananis stole a last-ditch Husky pass on Harvard's 20 with less than two minutes to play and Harvard hung on to win, 21-14.

The Crimson seemed to have a victory tucked away with a 21-7 lead and only four minutes to go. But Paul Masi, Harvard's fourth quarterback of the game, lost the ball to Northeastern's Tom Niccosia on the Crimson 28. On the next play the Huskies clicked on a scoring toss, and the conversion made it 21-14.

A few minutes later Niccosia pounced on another Harvard fumble this one on the Crimson 40. A long pass put the Huskies on the 13 with 1:40 to play, and then Ananis made his game-saving interception.

It was a great day for the Crimson defense. The linebackers -- led by John Emery and Bob Machin--repeatedly dropped Northeastern quarterbacks for big losses. And Tom Wynne made a key interception in the second quarter.

In fact, the defense was all that Harvard had on the field for most of the beginning of the game. Sophomore halfback Will Stargel--who scored twice in the varsity game against Lafayette--fumbled on the first play from scrimmage. Northeastern recovered and Husky halfback Charlie Burgess scored from the 5 yardline.

Stargel dropped the ensuing kickoff and Northeastern took it again at the Harvard 23. A field goal missed and then the Crimson went to work.

Harvard notched all of its 21 points in the second quarter. Safetyman Don Sadoski slithered 68 yards down the sideline with a punt to tie the score at 7-7. Sadoski was aided by Bill Timpson's bone-crushing block at the Northeastern 20.

Soon after Sadoski's tally, halfback Marshall Goldberg made four first downs in a long Crimson drive and capped it by skirting left end to score from the 8 yard line. Goldberg hit paydirt again with just 45 seconds to play in the half to put Harvard in front at the midway point, 21-7.

Harvard gave the Huskies a scare late in the third quarter when sophomore cornerback Parker Wise blocked a punt and the Crimson took over on the Northeastern 17. George Lalich, another sophomore passed to Jim Marshall on the 3. But the Huskies held for four downs.

Goldberg sparked the Harvard offense, but there were too many miscues--five fumbles in all--to make it a highly successful afternoon. There were a few other bright spots. All four quarterbacks appeared highly competent, especially Pete Berg who played the whole first half.