For a brief time, the game had all the earmarks of an upset. Columbia had just intercepted a Milt Holt pass and driven through the papier-mache-like Harvard defense for 45 yards and a touchdown.

Moments before, after recovering a Holt fumble, the Lions had taken the ball all the way to the Crimson 12, only to be stopped by an interception. Columbia was moving consistently against the uninspired Harvard defense, the Crimson offense was committing blunder after blunder, and the crowd was in a frenzy.

It was at this point, losing 6-0 (Columbia had missed the extra point) with 8:41 to go in the first period, that Harvard decided to stop fooling around and get down to business.

Tom Winn ran the ensuing kickoff from the three yard line to the Harvard 46. Holt and company then took over, and marched 54 yards in 12 plays, Holt capping off the drive with a four yard pass to tight end Tom McDermott for the score.

The defense got tough and gave the Lions nothing, handing the ball back to the offense in good field position.

A drive to the Columbia 27 was killed by another interception, but Columbia got nowhere again, and the Harvard offense went right back to work. The Crimson moved 54 yards in seven plays, Holt going in from the four for the score.

The key play in the drive was a spectacular leading catch by (who else?) All-American candidate Pat McInally, good for 33 yards.

The touchdown gave Harvard an uncomfortable 14-6 lead at halftime, but at least there was the feeling that Harvard was taking command of the ballgame.

The second half was all Harvard.

Safety Fran Cronin, playing his third successive strong game, intercepted a Lion aerial at the Columbia 30.

Harvard wasted no time and scored in seven plays, Holt hitting halfback Winn on a two-yard toss. Holt fumbled the point-after attempt, and Harvard had a commanding 20-6 advantage.

Columbia began to fight back and took the ball from its 20 to the Harvard 45 before cornerback Bill Emper picked off another Columbia pass.

Second-string running backs Mark Taylor and Steve Dart came in and plowed through the porous Columbia front line for consistent gains. Harvard finally brought the ball in for a TD ten plays later, Taylor scoring from two yards out to climax the 63-yard march. The touchdown upped the margin to 27-6, and school was out for the beleaguered Lions.

Harvard added one more tally in the fourth period, as reserve quarter back Doug Gordon lofted a 33-yard scoring toss to Tom Hagerty to make the final score 34-6.

The victory was especially encouraging in light of the strong effort turned in by the whole defensive unit after the initial Lion thrusts in the early going. The defensive line enjoyed its best day of the season, limiting the Columbia ground attack to just 40 yards on 43 attempts.