The Harvard scoring, however, was not, as Mike Lynch added to his impressive first-game scoring totals with a 31-yard field goal to close out the third quarter scoring.
The teams exchanged touchdowns to produce a final score of Harvard, 34-Columbia, 10. The Crimson score was generated by substitute quarterback Tim Davenport, who drove the team to the Lions one-yard line before Larry Schember dove over for the score.
Finally, with just 51 seconds remaining in the game, the Lions not only crossed mid-field, but they scored their lone touchdown as well.
As substitute quarterback Call Moffie found wide receiver Artie Pulfinelli alone in the corner of the end-zone.
A crowd of approximately 12,000 witnessed Harvard's opening-day triumph, as Harvard defeated Columbia for the sixth successive year.
Whether the Crimson was as strong as the final score indicated will not be known until later in the season.
The Crimson faces the University of Massachusetts at home next week. That game will be televised. The Crimson plays Boston University at home the week after.