Two weeks ago, junior running back Chris Menick committed a costly personal foul in a 21-17 loss to Lehigh. He atoned last week with a 39-carry, 176-yard performance in a 19-12 win against Cornell.

Saturday at The Stadium, Menick committed a costly fumble at the Holy Cross 7-yard line with Harvard up 14-7 and under 7:00 to go in the game. He didn't have to wait long for redemption, however, as his third touchdown of the day, a 16-yard run up the middle, gave Harvard (2-3, 1-1 Ivy) a 20-14 overtime win. HOLY CROSS  14 HARVARD  20

Menick's fumble came just as it appeared Harvard, which inserted junior quarterback Brad Wilford for junior Rich Linden at halftime, was going to put the game away. On a sweep to the right, Holy Cross linebacker Ben Berger popped the ball loose. Linebacker Joe Saunders scooped up Menick's fumble at the 11-yard line and ran down the left sideline with an open field.

Sophomore receiver Josh Wilske made the hustle play to chase Saunders down at the Harvard 11-yard line, but Holy Cross (2-4, 1-0 Patriot) tied the game with a seven-yard screen pass from Matt Kives to fullback Antonio Thompson.

"Initially, I felt like punching myself in the face," Menick said. "I felt so guilty for the defense, that they had to come out. They were probably pissed off or whatever. They played so great, and I just tried to for get it. I knew I was going to get another chance. It was 14-14, so I couldn't get down on myself."

The fumble recovery and score, which came with 5:53 left, were just the beginning of a dramatic series of plays before the game finally went to overtime.

The Crusaders started driving again with 3:11 to go, but on third-and-four from Holy Cross' 26-yard line, Kives's pass hit senior defensive end Artie Jones on the helmet and popped at least 30 feet straight up in the air before falling incomplete.

Harvard made an all-out rush to try to block the punt and prevent overtime but was penalized 15 yards for roughing the kicker, and Holy Cross kept driving with 1:17 left.

It got down to the Harvard 38-yard line and had a third-and-two situation. With the crowd of 5,574 on its feet, Harvard safety Derek Yankoff and linebacker Clint Kollar stuffed an option pitch right to running back Joe Chambers, and Holy Cross chose to let the clock run down despite having two timeouts.

There were 30 seconds left in regulation, so the Crusaders appeared to have plenty of time to try to get a first down and move closer. They chose to settle for a Hail Mary, which was incomplete in the endzone as time expired.

"I was surprised," said Harvard Coach Tim Murphy. "I thought they were going to try to kick the field goal."

The drama continued in overtime, when Harvard won the toss and elected to go second. In the college format, teams start first-and-10 on the opposition's 25-yard line. Holy Cross attempted a halfback option pass on the first play, but Harvard's secondary didn't bite.

"In overtime, when every snap is so precious, you need to get positive yardage on the first snap, and we were fortunate," Murphy said. "They went for the home run on the first play."

Kives threw incomplete then scrambled for two yards on third down. Placekicker Dana Fiatarone missed wide right on a 40-yard attempt, and Harvard's offense took the field knowing a field goal would win the game.

Menick ran left for two yards then right for seven. With third-and-one at the 16 yard line, Harvard was within junior place kicker Jonathan Patton's range.