First Quarter Col--Bivens, 1 run (Kravitz kick) 6:57.

Second Quarter Col--FG, Kravitz, 36 yards, 1:05.

Third Quarter Col--Cannan, 25 pass from Childress (Kravitz kick), 8:19. Col--Hayes, 1 run (Kravitz kick), 7:52.

Rushing: Har--Menick 13-42, Linden 9-23, Patterson 3-15, Nwokocha 3-6, Belczyk 2-19, Wilford 2-10; Col--Hayes 22-65, Reese 11-78, Bivens 4-14, Mack 4-17, Schroeder 3-10, Childress 2-20, Thompson 1-9, Barsoumian 1-1.

Passing: Har--Linden 17-10-2 (60), Wilford 4-6-0 (31); Col--Childress 22-11-1 (102).

Receiving: Har--Menick 3-13, Wilske 2-17, Patterson 2-11, Belczyk 2-13, Flynn 1-9, Eitzmann 1-3, Heller 1-4, Mattson 1-6, Smalling 1-8; Col--Cannan 2-38, Holmes 2-18, Dawkins 2-10, Hayes 2-11, Reese 2-21, Mack 1-4. Interceptions:Har--Weller; Col--Roland, Schaffer. FG Missed:Col--Kravitz 34. Time of Possession:Col--35:41, Har--24:19. Attendance:11, 175.

B-1 SHUTOUT starter, Chris Tillotson, was suspended from Saturday's game for violating unspecified team rules. Harvard was unable to exploit the weakness.

"I don't think we got a lot of a chance to take advantage of their secondary because they got consistently good pressure on us," Murphy said. "With their outside linebackers blitzing and [defensive end] Rashaan Curry having an excellent day, I'm not sure we got as good a chance to test their young secondary."

Harvard's running was just as ineffective as its passing, and Columbia's defensive line penetration created eight tackles for loss. Junior running back Chris Menick averaged 126.7 yards per game last year but gained only 37 yards on 13 attempts.

Columbia's offense enjoyed a 35:41 to 24:19 advantage in time of possession but had almost twice as much possession as Harvard in the first half. Columbia's offensive line dominated Harvard's inexperienced defensive line, opening up holes for a two-running back attack that produced 196 yards rushing.

Junior tailback Norman Hayes was the ram that wore down Harvard's defense, which tired because of the Lions' advantage in possession and the 75 degree heat reflecting off the artificial turf surface. Hayes carried 22 times for 65 yards and one touchdown, and freshman Johnathan Reese carried 11 times for 78 yards.

"Wow, who the heck is that?" Murphy asked of Reese. "We're still asking ourselves that."

Columbia got in front in the first quarter with an 11-play drive that went 53 yards in 4:58. The drive began after junior punter Mike Giampaolo's effort went only 39 yards with a 28-yard net. Giampaolo would be forced to leave after the play because he pulled a muscle during pre-game warmups.

During the series, the Lions introduced a new look on offense with former running back Jason Bivens playing option quarterback from a wishbone set. Columbia used the wishbone on two series during the drive, including Bivens' one-yard touchdown run on fourth and goal with just under seven minutes left in the first quarter. The rushing touchdown was the first Harvard's defense had allowed in league play since 1996.

Junior Jonathan Patton replaced Giampaolo as punter, and his eight punts averaged only 31.3 yards. After a 31-yard Patton punt, Columbia took over with 9:07 left in the first half at its own 37. Fourteen plays and 44 yards later--hardly an impressive average--Columbia's Neal Kravitz booted a 36-yard field goal.

The scoring drive lasted 8:02 and was typical of Columbia's possessions. Although the Lions did not break many big plays, they faced 17 third-down conversion opportunities, which demonstrates how many offensive plays they ran.

However, when Columbia salted the game away in the third quarter, it was with two quick drives. The Lions drove 61 yards in only four plays and 1:36, ending when quarterback Paris Childress rolled left and found a wide-open Mark Cannan at the 5-yard line. Cannan walked in for the touchdown when senior free safety Derek Yankoff rushed forward at Childress instead of dropping back.

Linden's second interception, a pass intended for sophomore Josh Wilske that went straight to Columbia linebacker Paul Roland, set up the last score of the day. Roland returned the ball 35 yards to Harvard's 1-yard line, and Hayes punched the ball in on the next play for the final score.

The symbol of Harvard's frustration might have come in the fourth quarter, when Columbia punter Ryan Kiernan's punt rolled 40 yards despite being partially blocked by linebacker Clint Kollar. When Harvard took over at its own 45-yard line, it committed holding penalties on consecutive plays, resulting in a first-and-40 situation. Sloppiness was just another one of Harvard's problems, as the Crimson committed eight penalties for 70 yards.

Next week, Harvard travels to Colgate, which may be the toughest team on Harvard's schedule. If the Crimson offensive and defensive lines do not improve their performances next week, Harvard faces the unwelcome possibility of being 0-2 and resembling the 1994-96 teams that were 10-20 more closely than the 1997 team that was 9-1.

"We go from the proverbial frying pan into the fire," Murphy said. "We'd better be ready to strap it on."