Harvard will be hampered in picking apart Northeastern's 'bone because of the uncertain status of defensive end and Captain Kevin Dulsky, who is suffering from a strained left knee.
On the other side, the Northeastern defense will have no easy task defending Harvard's Multiflex, which showed its potency last Saturday in the Crimson's 35-0 demolition of Columbia.
Poor Yardstick
Although Columbia should not be used as a yardstick for excellence--a good high school could probably give the Lions a game--Harvard's offense does appear to be significantly improved over the 1986 unit.
With last year's up-and-down season behind him, junior quarterback Tom Yohe has gained in confidence and competence. Against Columbia, he threw for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Yohe also ran the ball five times for 15 yards.
Unlike his Northeastern counterpart, Yohe has demonstrated he can run and pass.
Yohe also knows how to spread around the wealth of his passes. In the Columbia crush, seven Harvard players--including tight end Kent Lucas, who made four receptions for 77 yards--caught passes.
"They're a much improved team," Northeastern Coach Paul Pawlak said. "They've gotten bigger both offensively and defensively. And they have a seasoned quarterback, which means a great deal. I expect a very wide-open game with their Multiflex offense."
Harvard's ground attack also enjoyed a field day against Columbia. Dave Bunning led Harvard rushers with 80 yards in 11 carriers, but neither he nor his cohorts in the backfield have been truly tested.
The big Huskie frontline and a pair of testy linebackers, Darin Jordan (16 tackles in two games) and Bill Guidetti (15), should be test enough.
Although the two squads have not played each other since 1971, a 17-7 Harvard victory in Joe Restic's first as head coach, they are familiar preseason foes. In the eight years prior to this one, Harvard and Northeastern have squared off in preseason contests. Two years ago, Harvard won. Last year, Northeastern finished on top.
"It's not like we're strangers to each other," Pawlak said. "We're sort of off-field friends."
Friends who will have a 'bone-crushing encounter today.
THE NOTEBOOK: Harvard own a 2-0 advantage in the series. The Crimson bested the Huskies, 28-7, in 1970...Northeastern first tested its Wishbone in 1985 in a preseason match with the Crimson...Tight end Don Gajewski may return to action today after suffering a dislocated shoulder. Halfback Rufus Jones will remain on the sidelines with a stress fracture of the left tibia.