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Yale Bulldogs Harvard in 'The 111th Game,' 32-13

Elis Capitalize on Crimson Turnovers; Hu Ties Season Record for Yards Rushing

The crowds told the story Saturday, as they always do at The Game.

Blue-painted Yalies, screamed and swayed in unison. Singing, pointing and waving their individual college flags, they celebrated Yale's victory over Harvard on the chilly weekend afternoon.

And on the other side of the Stadium sat the glum Harvard crowd, quiet in defeat except for the occasional defiant yell, "Yale Sucks!"

Unfortunately, on the field, Yale didn't.

When the dust settled and the final gun sounded, Yale (5-5 overall, 3-4 Ivy) had defeated Harvard (4-6, 2-5), 32-13.

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With first-string quarterback Vin Ferrara out with a knee injury, the Harvard offense could generate only 22 passing yards and relied almost exclusively on the rushing of sophomore Eion Hu and junior Kweli Thompson.

While the two running backs turned in decent performances, the load ultimately proved too heavy and Yale pulled away in the second half with three touchdowns.

The Crimson defense, while forcing the Eli offense to punt numerous times, could not prevent Yale from scoring when a blocked punt in the first half and an interception in the second twice gave Yale the ball near the Harvard goal-line.

Both series ended in quick-strike Yale touchdowns, and those proved the difference in this 111th playing of The Game.

"I have to give [Yale] coach Cozza credit," said Harvard coach Tim Murphy. "They made very, very few mistakes.

"We're obviously a much different team now than we were a few weeks ago. We're much more one-dimensional. Only being able to run the football today did not allow us the opportunity to stay in the football game."

Harvard actually opened the scoring when Hu plunged in for a one-yard touchdown on Crimson's third drive of the game.

The score was set up by an eye-popping 36-yard reverse by freshman running back Roger Bourcicot, and it sparked a Harvard squad that until then had shown little life.

On that drive, the Crimson doggedly determined to get into the end zone and not even fourth down and four could stop them. Kezirian and Hu combined on an inside hand-off to get the first down and keep the drive alive.

After the score, however, the wheels fell of the Harvard wagon. Yale came roaring back with two second-quarter touchdowns to grab a 12-6 half-time lead.

Disaster struck when Murphy inserted freshman Jay Snowden at quarterback to open the second half.

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