Running.

Passing.

Blocking.

You name it, the Crimson backs did it on Saturday, marching Harvard right through Princeton with uncommon ease.

Just ask Princeton Coach Steve Tosches, who, after the game, looked about as happy as death.

"There's no doubt about it. We got beat," a somber Tosches said. "They ran the football. They established themselves on the ground."

They sure did. Harvard racked up 200 yards on the ground on 55 attempts. While those are solid numbers, they certainly aren't earth-shattering. Rather, what was significant about those yards was the timing.

On key plays throughout the game, the Crimson backs came up huge, securing first-downs (23 for Harvard, a meager 11 for Princeton) and eating time off the clock. And give the backs credit for the Crimson's impressive nine-for-17 third-down conversion rate.

Unstoppable

To anyone watching the game, one back in particular stood above the rest--indeed leaped above the rest. Junior halfback Robb Hirsch powered his way for 99 yards rushing and 53 yards receiving, easily the best performance by a Crimson rusher this year.

But that doesn't even begin to tell the story.

Hirsch dazzled the crowd (and his fellow gridders) with his sheer power and determination, an intensity and ferocity that kept the Crimson offense in high gear throughout the game.

Though he carried the ball 18 times, Hirsch ran each play as if it was his first.

"I was loving it," he said. "I really enjoy it."

Though neither a speedster nor a graceful runner, the Lowell junior is gifted in one respect: he refuses to give up an inch, literally. He did not lose a single yard all day.