The biggest comeback story of the day was probably Menick's, however. He ended up with 21 carries for 112 yards, but it wasn't as simple as that. His fumble on the kickoff return put Holy Cross in position to score its second touchdown. His ability to bounce back from the mistake let Harvard get back in the game.

It wasn't the first time Menick has fumbled in a crucial situation against Holy Cross. Last year, he fumbled at the Crusaders' 11 with Harvard up 14-7. Holy Cross recovered and returned the ball to Harvard's 11 and scored to force overtime. Menick put his mistake behind him, to say the least. Although he said after the game that he "felt like punching himself in the face" after the fumble, Menick ran up the gut for the game-winning touchdown on Harvard's first possession of overtime.

He atoned again this year, transforming himself into the battering ram who terrorized the Crusaders for 261 yards and three touchdowns in '97. Harvard dominated time of possession, 35:19 to 24:41.

"I was thinking about last year when I fumbled," Menick said. "It was weird, but I remembered coming back. I just tried to forget it."

At halftime, Menick had six carries for 28 yards. In the third quarter, he carried six times for 43 yards. In the fourth quarter, he carried nine times for 51 yards. For the game, Harvard beat up the Crusaders 53 times for 214 rushing yards.

Up 25-17, Harvard began at its own 12 with 10:07 left in the game. Menick ran for three, five, two, 15, seven, one, and one yard in the span of nine plays. Holy Cross's defense looked tired thanks to the combination of the offensive line and Menick.

"The line was outstanding again, I'm happy with the way the line blocked," Menick said. "I was detecting Holy Cross may have been getting tired, but although they wore down a little in the last drive, they didn't quit."

Wilford converted a fourth-and-one on a quarterback sneak. Holy Cross was keying on Menick, so Murphy had him hand to Patterson on a reverse that went for 15 yards. By the time senior kicker Mike Giampaolo missed a 45-yard field goal attempt, only 2:16 was left on the clock.