The offensive line has proven effective in run blocking. The Crimson running backs lead the Ivy league average, 4.1 yards per carry and 176.9 yards on the ground. Menick's brute toughness had a lot to do with those numbers, but the line opened up many holes for him.

The pass blocking has been much more erratic, allowing many sacks and poorly picking up the blitz

Yale's offensive line has opened holes for their running back to the tune of 157 yards per game rushing and a 3.8 yard per carry average this season. It has a sizable experience advantage of Harvard as well since it was not bringing in four new offensive linemen at the beginning of the year.

enter>Special Teams

Harvard senior kicker Mike Giampaolo has been erratic this year and Coach Tim Murphy hasn't shown lots of confidence in him either. On fourth and a foot against Princeton with the score tied and :07 left on the

clock, Murphy elected to run a quarterback sneak rather than kick the chip shot field goal.

When he was asked about the decision, Murphy said that he remembered last year's Game and how Giampaolo missed a short field goal at the end of the game.

Yale kicker Mike Murawczyk has made 12-of-16 field goals, and 33-of-37 extra points this season. Punter Eric Johnson has a 40 yard per punt average and has put nine punts inside the opponent's twenty yard line. Yale has also returned 2 punts for touchdowns this year.

enter>Defensive Line

With a senior laden defensive front led by Chris Nowinski and Brian oward, Harvard is loaded with talent on the line. The Crimson is allowing only 2.7 yards per rushing attempt and 83 yards on the ground per game.

Much of the credit for this has to go to Harvard's defensive line which aggresively pushes the offensive line back and plugs the holes. It is extremely good in stuffing short yardage situations.

Harvard has also been able to put pressure on the passer all season, usually only with the front four without having to blitz.

Yale's defensive line , while a good one, racked up 31 sacks this season and virtually matched the Crimson's rushing numbers also giving up 2.7 yards per carry and 91 yards per game

While both groups are talents, the heavy senior experience in The Game swings the pendulum Harvard's way.

enter>Linebackers

Senior Isaiah Kacyvenski is a force in the middle for the Crimson. Two time Ivy League defensive player of the

week this season, he has to be accounted for by opposing offenses on every play.

Kacyvenski, a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award as the best player in Division 1-AA, and a projected NFL player, is the unquestioned leader of