Touchback Time
On fourth down, Restic pulled off a brilliant maneuver, sending Stoeckel scrambling into the end zone for a safety with one second left, thus preventing any Penn back from touching the ball. McInally punted a dribbler to Penn center Andy Pettit to end the game.
Harvard's defense--formerly, number one in the nation--took another statistical beating, giving up 533 yards to Penn's explosive Veer offense. Unable to key on Clune because of Bellizeare, the defense gave up its yardage in huge gobs.
Seven plays netted Penn 306 of its yards, and Penn's three first-half touchdowns came in only eight minutes and 12 seconds. Clune set a Penn record for career receptions and Bellizeare became the first Penn back to gain 100 yards in four consecutive games.
Harvard hit hard, however, and caused three fumbles in the first half. Halftime adjustments shut off Bellizeare's wide trap, where he gets the ball deep in his backfield and "veers" to daylight. In the third period, Bellizeare carried three times for a net loss of one yard.
Hit Hard and Deep
Harvard's other pair of ends--Mitch Berger and Joe Mackey--shut down any semblance of a ground game with awesome play. Penn tried to take Dartmouth's cue and run the option, but both Berger and Mackey met Vaughn deep in the backfield. "That's the only way to play it--hit him," Berger said after the game. "That way, he'll hesitate a bit before he considers coming my way again." With his brand of friendly persuasion, Berger caused two fumbles, one of which was recovered by Mackey.
Hard-hitting Joe Sciolla was given the unpleasant task of covering Clune man to man whenever Harvard blitzed, and, except for a pair of lapses in the second quarter, did a good job until he sprained an ankle knocking away a pass in the fourth quarter.
"Clune's pretty fast, got good moves, and incredible hands," Sciolla said. "The astroturf works to his advantage--it's so easy to cut on that stuff."
Asked who was the better receiver, McInally or Clune, Sciolla said, "I'd have to say Mac. Definitely."
Sciolla was often left one on one with Clune after Harvard discovered that blitzing linebackers had little trouble getting through Penn's offensive line. In the second half, linebackers Sandy Tennant and Bob Kristoff and adjustor George Newhouse came often and came hard.
The second half was also marked by the re-emergence of Stoeckel as a first class punter, after a disappointing Dartmouth game.
The scene in Harvard's locker room after the game was one of unrestrained joy. McInally opened his arms to tight end Curtin and screamed, "Peter! Goddammit! Do you believe it? Goddammit!"