In the fourth quarter, however, the tide began to turn. Harvard stopped Colgate after the Menick interception. On its next possession, Colgate once again seemed to be on the move after two Joseph runs for 18 yards that put the ball on the Harvard 38. Senior strong safety Mike Madden then intercepted a Vena pass at the 30 and returned the ball to midfield.

Harvard then took twelve plays and 5:38 to score on a Wilford keeper from one yard out. An eight-yard Wilford scramble kept the drive alive on third-and-6, and Menick had a nine-yard run to convert a fourth-and-one. Another Menick run went for two yards on third-and-two. Two more runs gave the Crimson first-and-goal at the one to set up Wilford's score.

The Crimson defense was able to hold the Red Raiders to a three-and-out, and Harvard got the ball on its own 21 with 3:54 left in the game. Once again, the offense converted in crucial situations. After collecting a first down, the offense faced fourth-and-5 at the Harvard 43-yard line. Wilford passed left to Patterson two yards behind the line of scrimmage. Patterson avoided several tacklers and ran to the Colgate 33 for a 24-yard gain.

That set up a play that no one, not even Patterson, expected to be as successful as it was. The play started as a reverse to Patterson but ended with a pass to Cremarosa down the left sideline.

"It was diagrammed as a pass, but if I was wide open, I was going to take the grass," said Patterson, who played quarterback in high school. "It shocked me because the guy was about halfway between myself and the receiver."

Cremarosa caught the ball at the 3-yard line and skipped into the end zone for the score that tied the game.

Harvard, however, had left Colgate enough time on the clock for Vena, who had been relatively quiet throughout the game and threw three interceptions, to lead the game-winning drive.