Harvard's offense didn't need to do much to win. After Penn's opening-drive touchdown, Harvard's defense dominated. When Wilford threw an interception at the Crimson 29, the defense did not allow a first down, and the Quakers missed a field goal attempt. Penn took over its next possession at the Harvard 45, and on the first play, senior linebacker Jeff Svicarovich destroyed tight end Benjamin Zagorski, forcing a fumble.

Wilford promptly threw another interception that gave Penn the ball at the 47, and the Quakers took advantage this time, with three third-down and one fourth-down conversion to take a 14-0 lead. Linden came in, and Harvard lost 28 yards on his first series. The Crimson defense forced a three-and-out, but then came the series ending with the interception in the end zone--Linden had a couple of open receivers yet threw into coverage.

The Harvard defense gave up only two combined first downs on Penn's first six possessions after the half. During that span, three plays after senior Mike Giampaolo missed a 30-yard attempt, Kacyvenski made an interception to give the offense the ball at the Penn 30, and Harvard scored to make it 14-7. Another three-and-out followed, and senior Terence Patterson returned a punt 77 yards to tie the game, 14-14.

Harvard's defense created another turnover two players later when Kacyvenski crushed Carson, forcing a fumble recovered at the Penn 28. Harvard took a 17-14 lead with a field goal. Svicarovich intercepted Hoffman on the next series at the Harvard 41, and with 2:51 left to go, it looked like the defense's persistence had finally paid off.

But the Crimson offense couldn't hold on. Freshman Brent Chalmers, in because senior Chris Menick suffered a knee injury and because the next three back-ups were injured as well, did a good job, but his lack of experience playing with Wilford hurt. On third-and-2 at the Penn 31, Chalmers ran too close to Wilford, and they collided. The ball popped out, and Penn recovered at its 37. The game-winning drive followed.

Now, a potentially-championship team has to stake its season on ruining Yale's bid for a title, not exactly the stakes it was hoping for earlier this year. However, the Crimson's recent offensive inefficiency and single defensive deficiency--its tendency to give up large chunks of passing yards late--have cost it three winnable Ivy games.

"For the first few games, we were rolling on offense," Eitzmann said. "Now we're frustrated, and we feel we're letting the defense down. They're playing so hard, and they're so good. I feel bad for the defense more than anything."

I do, too.