Harvard's football team, still savoring last week's opening game upset against UMass, should have no trouble disposing of hapless Boston University this afternoon at Harvard Stadium.
Today's game will probably be a repeat of last season's Crimson encounter with B.U., when Harvard scored on its first offensive play and built up a 31-0 halftime lead. The 33-14 final score would have been much worse if coach Joe Restic had not used his bench most of the second half.
The Terriers, sporting a 1-2 record, have gotten steadily worse since beating Maine 16-13 in their first game. Bucknell trounced B.U. 24-6 in their second game and last week, in B.U.'s first home game of the season, Vermont shut out the Terriers, 15-0.
B.U.'s sputtering offense has shown flashes of competence at midfield but hasn't been able to sustain scoring drives. Senior quarterback George Jerina, who has missed all of his varsity career because of a knee injury, and senior Ray Roach have split time at the Terrier helm.
Neither has been very productive as a passer. Their combined passing total is 27 completions out of 60 attempts for 236 yards. Their leading receiver, senior Harmon Hudson, has caught eight passes for 49 yards.
The most productive B.U. offense weapon has been its defense. Fourteen of the 22 points the Terriers have accumulated this season came on pass interceptions run back for scores, one by cornerback Rick Porter, the other by safety Greg Pemberton.
Harvard's lineup, which includes 13 sophomores and juniors with only one game under their belts, will remain the same as last week's.
Junior Pat McInally, chosen as the Crimson's offensive player of the week for eight receptions, 112 yards and a touchdown he made last week while playing with a heavily bandaged right hand, will start at split end.
Sophomore Neal Miller, one of five East Coast Athletic Conference Rookies of the week, will team up in the backfield with junior halfbacks Alky Tsitsos and Ed Cronin. Miller rushed for 79 yards in 19 carries and caught two touchdown passes. Tsitsos, the Crimson's leading rusher so far, picked up 97 yards in 27 carries last week.
Captain Dave St. Pierre will lead the Crimson defensive charge from his safety spot. St. Pierre was named the defensive player of the week for his outstanding play, including helping partially block a punt to set up Harvard's go-ahead touchdown. cluding helping partially block a punt to set up Harvard's go-ahead touchdown.
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