The dramatic ending was reminiscent of last year's contest with Cornell.

With four minutes left in the game at Ithaca, N.Y., Harvard led 23-10 and had the Big Red pinned at fourth-and-long. Yet, a defensive holding penalty gave Rahne an opportunity to storm back to a 24-23 lead. Harvard had a chance to reclaim victory on a last-second 40-yard field goal, but the 6'6 All-American, Splendorio deflected the kick as Cornell won by a point.

"It's impossible not to [think about last year]," Murphy said. "But, I don't want to hear any of this stuff about jinx or destiny baloney. Technically, [Splendorio] shouldn't be able to block the kick from that distance. It wasn't much more than an extra-point."

Regardless, Harvard should never have been in the position to let Cornell back in the game after completely dominating the first half of play.

Harvard scored on the opening drive of the game, keyed by a bizarre play that turned out to be just the start of a wild contest. Rose connected with Farley along the right sideline for 29 yards to the Cornell 20, when Big Red cornerback Jimmy Vattes punched the ball out of Farley's hands. The loose ball rolled eighteen yards forward before fellow Crimson wide-out Sam Taylor fell on the ball at the Cornell 2-yard line. Two plays later, Rose ran into the end zone to put the Crimson up, 7-0.

A Cornell three-and-out then gave Harvard the ball on its own 20. The Crimson drove down the field swiftly, only to miss a field goal from 45 yards out.

Cornell went three-and-out again, and Harvard took over at midfield. The Crimson drove to Cornell's 16 yard-line before attempting another field goal. Wright's kick prophetically sailed wide right.