The Harvard Crimson made up for a season full of disappointment this afternoon by thumping Yale, 24-17, before a capacity crown of 40,000 chilly fans at the Stadium in the 103rd edition of The Game.

The Crimson offense--led by Tom Yohe, the first sophomore ever to start The Game for Harvard Coach Joe Restic--looked as sharp as it has all season long.

Yohe capped a super day with a 53-yard touchdown bomb to George Sorbara late in the third period to put Harvard (3-7 overall, 3-4 Ivy) on top to stay.

Yale (3-7 overall, 2-5 Ivy) got a terrific performance from tailback Ted Macauley, but his efforts went for nought against the finely-tuned Crimson defense, led by a crack corps of defensive backs.

Harvard took its first possession to midfield, but the Crimson's year-long curse--the fumble--again proved its undoing. A pitch from quarterback Tom Yohe to halfback Joe Pusateri never got there, and Yale took over on its own 40.

The Bulldogs, facing a stiff wind, kept the ball on the ground and drove down the gridiron.

Tailback Ted McCauley spearheaded the Eli attack, as he consistently dove off-tackle behind enormous holes. Yale earned four first downs behind McCauley without the benefit of a pass completion.

Without Captain Scott Collins--who missed the game with torn knee ligaments--the Crimson defense couldn't stop the Eli ground assault, and fullback Tom Mercein capped the Yale drive with a nifty, tackle-shedding, eight-yard touchdown scamper.

Kicker John Duryea added the extra point to make it 7-0 with 3:38 remaining in the first period.

Harvard took the ensuing kickoff and nearly scored a touchdown of its own. Three downs picked up only eight yards and fullback/punter Brian O'Neil was called in to punt it away.

The snap was low, but O'Neil showed great presence of mind by picking the rolling ball up and racing down the right sideline for a 26-yd. gain and a first down.

Three plays later, the Crimson seemed to have clicked. On a third-and-10 form the Yale 35, Crimson QB Tom Yohe sent four receivers right. None broke open immediately, but the Crimson offensive line blocked well and gave senior receiver Joe Connolly room to break free. Connolly streaked into the endzone.

Yohe spiralled a perfect pass towards the wide-open Connolly, but the senior--who suffered a foot injury in last week's Penn game--couldn't hold on to the ball as it grazed off his fingertips.

Yale took over on its own 44 and drove 29 yards for a 44-yd. field goal by John Duryea.

The big play of the drive--whick exhibited more of Yale's straight-ahead blasting through the Crimson line--was a Troy Jenkins 10-yard first down run on an inside handoff with Yale in a shotgun formation.