The Crimson overcame a 10-0 first-quarterdeficit to score 27 unanswered points, 20 of whichcame in the second half. Harvard came back not bythrowing, as one might expect, but by jamming theball down Brown's throat with 54 rushes for 328yards.
The Crimson defense stiffened after allowingscores on two of Brown's first three possessions.The Bears' offensive star, wide receiver SeanMorey, had six catches for 92 yards in the firsthalf but only three for 37 in the second. Harvarddid not let its run defense slip in the process,allowing only 32 rushing yards on 13 attempts inthe second half.
Down 10-0, Harvard's defense turned the gamearound on a forced fumble at its own 26. TheCrimson then marched down the field on anine-play, 74-yard touchdown drive that included apair of clutch conversions, on a third-and-nine atthe Harvard 27 and a fourth-and-two at the Brown15.
The championship game came a week later, asHarvard hosted the second-place Penn Quakers. TheCrimson emphatically stamped its name on the 1997season with a 33-0 shutout.
Harvard converted 11 of its 21 third-andfourth-downs and outgained Penn 362 to 144 yards.Menick went over 1,101 yards, seemingly settingthe yardage mark, and also scored his record-tying13th touchdown. However, he lost two yards on hislast carry, leaving him still one yard short ofHu's season record.
The Crimson defense keyed thechampionship-clinching game and continued itsbullying of the Ivy League. Penn wentthree-and-out on its first six possessions andended up with only nine first downs the entiregame. The Quakers were only successful on four oftheir 21 third and fourth-down conversions.
Harvard intercepted three passes; junior cornerGlenn Jackson had two, including one for atouchdown, which extended his team-leading totalto six.
"It was as thorough a domination as I've everbeen involved in," said Penn Coach Al Bagnolifollowing the game.
Only one game--The Game--remained on thedocket.
Despite Harvard's 8-1 record and Yale's 1-8mark, the 114th Game was as close as one wouldexpect from an age-old rivalry. However, Harvardwas simply much better than the Elis, and the 17-7victory assured an undisputed championship and aperfect 7-0 Ivy record.
Menick made sure he broke the single-gamerushing record for good, running 22 times for 167yards, and Harvard scored just 1:40 into the game.However, Yale hung tough despite a 16-yardtouchdown catch by senior Jared Chupaila on thirddown and a 41-yard Giampaolo field goal.
The Bulldogs managed a touchdown with 10minutes left in the contest as Joe Walland foundKen Marschner in the corner of the end zone, butHarvard's defense stiffened on the Bulldogs' lastdrive to preserve the championship.
Harvard did all the little things right aswell, as junior Joe Weidle blocked a field goal,Jackson batted a pass down at the goal line andHarvard stuffed Yale twice on second-and-one atthe Crimson five.
"There are no style points in football," Murphysaid. "In the Yale game, you can throw thestatistics out the door."
So although it wasn't Harvard's most impressivewin of the season, it was a win. And that's whatthe year was about--Harvard winning, whether itwas pretty or ugly, home or away, early or late.
"This is what we seniors came here for,"Skelton said.
It took a special group of players and a coachwho pushed all the right buttons during the year.In one clutch situation after another, Lindendropped back into the shotgun, Harvard spread thefield with four wide receivers and eitherChupaila, Skelton or Patterson would make theconversion catch. In one defining moment afteranother, the defense stopped a runner cold orbatted a pass down.
"This is a very close football team," Murphysaid. "You have to dream things, and we had 100percent commitment."
The result was, quite literally, perfect.