With just over three minutes remaining in the third quarter and the Tigers on their way to what would have been the biggest upset in the Ivy League this year, Princeton punter Rob DiGiacomo sent a booming kick deep into Tiger territory.

Quaker Chris Flynn signaled for a fair catch, but let the ball bounce instead. A Princeton player subsequently tried to down the ball, touched it, but failed to control it. As Princeton players trudged off the field--thinking the ball had been downed--the pigskin continued to bounce freely.

Flynn, meanwhile, picked up the loose ball and raced 79 yards untouched for a touchdown that knotted the score at 21-21 and propelled Penn to an eventual 31-21 win.

The officials immediately called back the touchdown. But after a five second conference, they signaled a score.

Ruling that a ball must be controlled to be considered down, and ruling that once a ball is touched the fair call signal is nullified, the officials correctly allowed the touchdown.

All of which is a perfect example of the heads-up play that has propelled Penn to three straight Ivy League crowns and which has made them a favorite to wrest their fourth straight.

* * *

The Quakers are all alone in first place in the Ancient Eight, holders of a 5-0 mark.

Only Penn, Harvard, Yale and Princeton--the top four teams in the league--are still in contention for the 1985 title, though it would take a minor miracle for either the Bulldogs or the Tigers to wrest the crown.

If Penn beats or ties Harvard in two weeks, it will assure itself of at least a tie for a record fourth crown.

For Harvard even to share the crown, it will have to defeat the Quakers in the Stadium in two weeks.

* * *

In the record book watch, White has moved into fourth place on the all-time Harvard pass yardage list with 1941 yards. He bypassed Don Allard '83, and needs 157 yards to pass Jim Stoekel '74 for third place.

White has 2260 yards total offense and needs 12 yards to move into fifth place in career total offense and 91 yards to take fourth place.

Senior kicker Rob Steinberg, meanwhile, has moved into fifth place on the all-time kick-scoring list with 81 points.