Harvard is still likely to feature star Menick. Menick has finally regaining last year's form and rushed for 167 yards against Holy Cross and 176 the week the before against Cornell. Menick has moved into third place on the Crimson's all-time rushing list.
The game may revolve around Harvard's ability to run. Holy Cross boasted a strong rushing defense, and Menick was able to carve through that defense for two rushing touchdowns, including the 16-yard game-winner in overtime.
Menick has really been sprung with the cohesion of Harvard's offensive line. The elephants up front have finally coalesced into a unit opening holes for the run and giving Linden and Wilford time to throw the ball.
"The offensive line is doing a real good job," Menick said. "They have really worked hard in practice and put the intensity needed to win. My job is to follow them."
The Princeton attack features a revitalized rushing game with no clear number one running back. Four players--senior Nathan McGlothlin, juniors Derek Theisen and Damien Taylor, and sophomore Kyle Brandt--have each taken turns leading the team in rushing. This four-headed monster is on pace for 1,322 yards, which would be the Tigers' highest total since Keith Elias racked up 1,731 in 1993.
The passing half of the offense does not impress as much as the rushing. Senior quarterback John Burnham has quietly had a fine season, his first as a starter. He has only thrown one interception in regulation play for his career but has thrown two in overtime.
"Overall, we are not focusing on the passing game," senior cornerback Glen Jackson said. "We are just trying to shut everything down."
The Harvard defense has really come alive and asserted itself over the past couple of weeks. Led by captain Brendan Bibro and junior linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski, the Crimson defense shut the Crusaders' attack down in the second half. It allowed only one touchdown, which came off a fumble return to Harvard's 11-yard line, and 73 total yards of offense. The defense held Holy Cross to three-and-out in overtime.
"Over the last weeks, we have really brought it together," Jackson said. "We are starting to work well as a team."
Harvard has really improved its play over the past two weeks. After a miserable 0-3 start, the Crimson is gathering some momentum thanks to a two-game winning streak.
The Crimson will need to sustain all that momentum and more in order to win at Princeton Stadium, which is expected to be packed with 27,800 screaming fans.
"This is the most important game of the season right now," Jackson said. "With the atmosphere in the building, we are all the more excited."
If that atmosphere echoes through the stadium when the final whistle blows, those fans will not only be cheering a Tiger victory but also the effective end to Harvard's title defense.