With a new offensive line, a new starting quarterback, and three freshmen wide receivers, points were not supposed to be easy to come by for the Harvard football team, especially early in the year.

Saturday, the offense stunningly obliterated all doubts as it unveiled an explosive, big-play attack in racking up a 24-7 win over Columbia. The Ivy League picture may have changed as the Crimson displayed an offense that is a threat to score on each play from scrimmage.

"We've made a concerted effort and talked about increasing our big plays," Harvard Coach Tim Murphy said. "In terms of winning games, I've always thought that big play differential and turnover differential are the most telling."

Although tallying a "big play differential" is an inexact science at best, by any estimation Harvard clearly came out ahead. Defining it as a play of 15 yards or more, the Crimson held a 10-3 edge, scattering its crushing offensive gains through all four quarters, beginning with its third possession.

Down 7-0, the teams had just traded interceptions giving the Crimson the ball on the Lions 27-yard line.

Murphy substituted senior tailback Troy Jones for senior Chris Menick. Jones, faster and more dynamic than the hard-nosed Menick, added a new dimension to the Harvard attack as he immediately gained eleven yards up the middle.

On the next play, senior quarterback Brad Wilford pitched the ball left to Jones, who stiff-armed his way past a tackle at the line of scrimmage then slipped through two more Lion defenders as he burst into the corner of the end zone.

Jones followed up his touchdown run the following series with a 40-yard gain that set up the Crimson's second trip to the end zone. Darting through a gaping hole forged by the offensive line, he turned on the jets and was finally knocked out of bounds at the 10-yard line.

"We have some depth at certain positions," Murphy said. "Troy showed what an exceptional football player he is [Saturday]."