No one knew what to expect of a Harvard football team that graduated its all-time leading rusher (Chris Menick '00), receiver (Terence Patterson '00) and tackler (Isaiah Kacyvenski '00, now a Seattle Seahawk) in June.
Add to that the departure of the Crimson's two senior quarterbacks, and Harvard's roster was one big question mark.
The surprising answer came in the form of the most potent passing attack in the school's history, one that kept the Crimson in contention for the Ivy League championship until last week. For all the points the Crimson put on the board, however, the inability of the placekicking unit to convert when it counted killed the team's title hopes. Saturday's contest is now just another Game.
Holy Cross 27, Harvard 25
Although junior Rose won the starting quarterback job in the preseason, an injury gave the sophomore quarterback a chance to shine against a Crusader team Harvard had beaten for four straight years. Wahlberg's debut was anything but stellar, however, as he completed only 4-of-16 pass attempts and threw three interceptions. The Crimson offense sputtered under Walhberg's direction, not even gaining a first down until well into the second half. Almost miraculously, when Wahlberg was finally pulled in favor of Rose (7-of-9, 78 yards), the Crimson was only down by two.
But Rose fumbled a snap on first-and-goal on the Holy Cross 20-yard line late in the game, and the resulting Holy Cross drive put the game out of reach. Senior starting tailback Chuck Nwokocha left the game with a torn MCL, and Harvard's offense left the field in disarray.
Harvard 42, Brown 37
During a fourth-quarter rally that featured three Harvard touchdown strikes in just under six minutes, Morris gained large chunks of his 220 receiving yards on the day with 63- and 80-yard grabs. The performance earned him Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week honors. Harvard's 586 yards of total offense were also a school record.
Harvard 42, Lafayette 19
Cornell 29, Harvard 28
Then, halftime ended and the nightmare began. Cornell quarterback Ricky Rahne found Joe Splendorio in the end zone to cut the lead to 15. In the fourth, Rahne connected on a 48-yard touchdown prayer to Keith Ferguson, and a Big Red field goal on the next possession brought Cornell within five. Rahne then drove the Big Red 87 yards on Cornell's final drive, ending it with a 52-yard fourth-down touchdown strike.
Harvard had one last chance to win it, but Splendorio, who had blocked a Harvard field goal to win last year's battle between the Ivy foes, repeated the feat by tipping Robbie Wright's last-second attempt right to win the game.
Lehigh 45, Harvard 13
Harvard 35, Princeton 21
Princeton freshman quarterback David Splithoff ran for all three Tiger touchdowns, but Harvard's defense prevented him from doing much damage beyond that. One of the few blemishes for Harvard was the placekicking unit's continuing troubles. The Crimson missed two field goals, continuing a torturous 1-for-9 spell.
Read more in Sports
This Just In: Harvard's GoodRecommended Articles
-
Harvard Explodes For 42 points, Beats BrownPROVIDENCE, R.I.--Isaac Bruce and Kurt Warner didn't suit up for the Harvard football team on Saturday, but the offensive explosion
-
The 'V' Spot: Brown Frozen in MorristownPROVIDENCE--After a lackluster first half, the Harvard football team decided to unveil its new offense--throw the ball to sophomore Carl
-
Oh No, Not Again: Splendorio Seals Another Improbable Cornell ComebackIn what may go down in the annals of Harvard football history as one of the most devastating losses it
-
Penn-cil Harvard Out: Game-Winning 32-Yard Field Goal Sails Wide LeftPHILADELPHIA-- It was an unenviable situation. The Harvard football team and Coach Tim Murphy had no outs. With fifteen seconds
-
Mighty Morris Makes Right ChoiceCarl Morris was not born with the football bug. He did not dream of Super Bowls and Candlestick Park. Instead,
-
Three Touchdowns in Seven Minutes Propel Harvard to 20-13 Victory in The GameIn The Game of the year, it took the Harvard football team nearly an entire half to find its most