HANOVER, N.H.--Mother Nature grounded Harvard's aerial attack Saturday, so Harvard simply controlled the ground.

In its most complete performance of the year, the Crimson (4-3, 3-1 Ivy) ran over Dartmouth (1-6, 0-4), behind a season-high 309 yards rushing and a solid defensive performance.

The win puts Harvard in a four-way tie for first place in a wide-open Ivy League race.

Harvard's much-maligned pass defense, formerly ranked last in the country, turned in its second straight impressive performance. The Crimson held Dartmouth to its lowest point total of the season, and the secondary gave up only 113 yards passing.

"The last two weeks allowed us to become a legitimate league contender," Head Coach Tim Murphy said. "Our defense set the pace today, and our offense did what it had to do."

Both teams' game plans were dictated by the weather. A cold, stiff 15 m.p.h. wind blowing straight down the field wreaked havoc on both teams' passing attacks. Rose's first two passes of the game sailed high and well in front of intended receiver Nwokocha, who was standing at the line of scrimmage.

Nwokocha tipped the second of these errant passes into the hands of a diving Big Green cornerback Todd Jelen.

But that would be Rose's only interception of the game. The quarterback adjusted nicely to the blustery conditions, finishing 14-for-24 for 148 yards and a touchdown. Rose limited himself largely to quick, short passes instead of airing the ball out.