ITHACA, N.Y.--Quarterbacks. Their importance in Ivy League football was demonstrated compellingly on Saturday. The whole circuit was looking for signalcallers in late August, and how each team solved or didn't solve the problem has largely determined the current standings. Dartmouth is the ultimate example, having returned a relatively high number of lettermen but losing the dynamic Buddy Teevens, it now fares an 0-3 record.

Saturday's 41-14 Harvard loss was a microcosm of both the Harvard and the overall Ivy seasons. Cornell has dealt with its question by platooning a scrambling Mike Ryan with the pass-oriented Mike Tanner, a measure that has brought it a devastating offense.

The Crimson, on the other hand, used its fourth signalcaller in as many games Saturday at Schoellkopf Field as Harvard quarterbacks continued to fall victim to the injury plague like so many medieval Europeans. After a sputtery offensive quarter and a half, Mike Smerczynski scrambled back toward the line of scrimmage and went down hard. He limped off the field with a badly sprained ankle, and the jinx lives on.

"I've never been through this in my life and I've been coaching for about 20 years," Coach Joe Restic said yesterday. "We're getting to the point now where it's desperation."

The entrance of Joe Lahti into the game sent the spectators scrambling for their programs. The number 1 on his jersey had Crimson fans shaking their heads trying to clear their eyes. But Lahti wasn't listed in the program and no, Larry Brown had not returned.

Instead, Lahti was just Lahti, but that was good enough to impress most observers. He is 6-ft. 3-in., bigger than any of the felled quarterbacks, showed a strong throwing arm and moved the team surprisingly well considering his lack of game and practice experience.

"Joe's strength is throwing the ball," Rstic said. "I was hoping to get some running going with Mike and then bring in Joe to work out of the shotgun if we needed the passing. Our plan was to combine both. But when you lose another quarterback, you have to go with what you can. Where do you go from there? I don't know."

After a slow start, the sophomore wound with ten completions in 29 attempts for 136 yards, much of this from the shotgun formation. Lahti made the game respectable by leading touchdown drives of 75 and 57 yards in the fourth quarter.

The defense kept within reach during the first half as sacks and penalties left the offense in neutral. Cornell opened the scoring after a stalled drive and a holding scoring in the half, booming 47- and 42yd. its own 21. Duke Millard's punt was blocked by the charging Big Red line and bounded into the endzone where Kent Craven grabbed it for the touchdown.

Cannon-legged Cornell kicker Ron Rejda then went to work to close out the scoring in the half, booming 47 and 42-yd. field goals in addition to the PAT to make the score 13-0. Rejda was on his way to a school record for most points by a kicker (11), adding four more extra points in the second half.

Cornell began to break the game open early in the third quarter. The Crimson defense was on the playing surface almost as long as the Astroturf in this one, and the wear began to show.

Tanner came through the revolving door that is the Cornell QB system and took control of the offense after halftime, masterfully directing a 74-yd. touchdown drive. A number of times the Crimson appeared to have contained the Big Red ground game only to have Tanner drop back and complete a big gainer.

On a third and 16 from the Cornell 30, Tanner hit Mark Turley coming out of the backfield for a 31-yd. gain to the Harvard 39.

The drive stalled again at the 25, but Tanner found tight end Brad Decker wide open at the 5 to set up a first and goal. When Bob Muha went over from the 1 two plays later, Cornell led 20-0 and was on its way to a romp.

"I thought our rushing defense played very well." Restic said later. Considering the amount of time the defenders spent on the field, giving up 152 net yards bears this out.