The Harvard football team returns to Ivy League play this Saturday, traveling to Ithaca, N.Y. to face Cornell.

And although the Big Red has not played stellar football this season, Cornell is always tough, particulary on the artificial turf of Schoellkopf Field.

The Crimson (1-3, 1-0) is mired in a three-game losing streak and desperately needs a boost.

Like the return to action of sophomore quarterback Mike Giardi, perhaps?

Well, that remains to be seen. Giardi has completed 31 of 57 attempts (.544) for 524 yards and four touchdowns. Giardi has thrown only two interceptions and has also run the ball 37 times for 84 yards and three touchdowns.

'Lerch'ing Forward

Entering last weekend's contest against Brown, Princeton boasted the top-rated defense in the Ivies. But judging by Saturday's game, you never would have guessed it.

After a wild and frenzied 59-37 pasting of the Bears, the Tigers' rank dropped to No. 3 in defense. Its offense, in turn, jumped to No. 1 in passing. And with good reason.

The Tigers took a page out of the Bears' book, putting on an impressive aerial display, highlighted by junior Mike Lerch's record-breaking day.

Lerch, a wide-receiver from Mantua, N.J., snagged nine passes for a total of-yes-370 yards, including four touchdowns. The junior shattered the NCAA Division I-AA record for yards receiving and all-purpose yards (463).

Indeed, Lerch provided the spark that helped Princeton rattle off 33 unanswered points to come back from a 37-26 deficit late in the third quarter.

Lerch wasn't the only player to make his mark on history on Saturday, however.

Bears' receiver Rodd Torbert racked up 188 yards, just enough to make him Brown's all-time receiving leader with 1523 total yards.

And Tigers' quarterback Chad Roghair recorded the best passing day in Princeton history. The toprated passer went 13-of-22 for 401 yards and five touchdowns.

Columbia Wins!