Harvard struck back immediately on a 10-play, 66-yard drive capped by a one-yard touchdown plunge by Palazzo.
Fried snagged his interception on the eighth play of the next Lafayette drive and gave the ball back to the Harvard offense, which scored again on a nine-play, 36-yard drive to increase the lead to 35-13.
The Leopards scored their final points of the day on a desperate 35-yard lob towards the end zone for which junior wide receiver Andrew May outjumped Fried.
The Crimson had its last score with 4:45 to go in the game when Rose faked an option play at the 1-yard line and pulled up to find Stakich in the opposite corner of the end zone.
On Saturday, Harvard will play Ivy power Cornell in what should be one of its toughest tests of the season.