The big showdown for first place in the Ivy League ended up being a showcase of the Harvard football team's dominance.

In its final home game of the season yesterday, Harvard (8-1, 6-0 Ivy) erased any doubt as to who was the Ivy's best football team with a 33-0 shutout of Penn (5-4, 4-2).

With the win Harvard clinched at least a share of its first Ivy title since 1987 and earned a chance at its first unblemished league mark since the Ivy League began round robin play in 1956.

"I'm euphoric," said senior defensive end Chris Smith. "There's nothing better. This is everything we've wanted and everything we've worked for."

Smith--who set a Harvard career sack record (18.5) in the first quarter--and the rest of the Harvard defense was stifling all day. In recording its second blanking of the season--the first was a 24-0 win over Dartmouth two weekends ago--the Crimson held the Quakers to just 144 total yards, and only 25 on the ground.

While the defense was pitching a shutout, sophomore quarterback Rich Linden (18-of-27, 218 yards, two touchdowns) was leading the offense to big play after big play.

"I don't think anybody thought the score was going to be 33-0," said Penn Coach Al Bagnoli. "It was as thorough a domination as I've been involved in."

It was clear early on that Harvard was the dominant team on both sides of the ball. Penn opened the game by first fumbling on the kickoff return, then going three plays and out. It was a sign of things to come, as the Quakers were forced to punt six times before finally recording a first down midway through the second quarter.

Harvard on the other hand mounted a scoring drive the first time it touched the ball. As it has done all season, the Crimson relied heavily on its ability to convert on third and fourth downs.

Facing a third-and-eight from its own 29-yard line early in the drive, Linden passed complete to senior flanker Jared Chupaila over the middle. Chupaila corralled the ball while sprinting left at Penn's 45-yard line and then darted up the middle for what turned out to be a 40-yard pass play.

It is the same third-and-long play that Harvard runs every week, but Penn defense seemed unprepared, as Chupaila was able to free himself with just one fake.

"Their defensive backs were a little soft, but I think that's a credit to our receivers," Linden said. "We had a great scheme this week. We knew a lot of times we could play a little cover-one, and if we got some man coverage we could hit those quick outs."

The completion set up the Crimson at the Quakers 31-yard line. Three plays later Harvard found itself in a fourth-and-two situation at the Penn 23 and once again was able to convert, this time with a nine-yard completion to senior split end Colby Skelton, who made a diving catch at the 14.

After an offsides penalty put the Crimson nine yards from the end zone, Menick received the handoff, ran right, bounced off two tacklers and rumbled into the end zone for the first score of the game.

The touchdown was Menick's 13th of the season, tying him for the school single-season mark set by Mike Giardi '94.