"We've got something for Gavin Hoffman," Alford says. "We know Hoffman's going to get his yards, but we're confident that we can contain him."

Penn presents an explosive set of wide receivers for Crimson defensive backs. Junior wideout Rob Milanese is fifth in Division I-AA in receptions, averaging 7.4 grabs per game. On the other side of the field, senior Doug O'Neill has 43 catches on the season, averaging over five per game. This powerful combination forces the opposing defenses to concentrate on both receivers, rather than just smothering one of them.

"They're both great receivers, but we're just going to do the same thing we've done all season," Alford says. "We're going to stop them by a bump-and-run coverage and contain their passing game."

With Harvard averaging 42.0 points per game away from home and Penn scoring above 40 points in each of its home wins, both defenses, especially the secondaries, will face strong challenges.

Playing games in the high-scoring Ivy League, Penn and Harvard hold the second and third best defenses in the league statistically, with the Quakers allowing 342.6 yards per game while Harvard gives up an average of 358.9 yards each game.

One wild card in Saturday's matchup could be Harvard's running game, where the Crimson average 185 yards per game on the ground, ranked second in the Ivy League, substantially higher than Penn's 112.8 yards per game average, seventh in the Ivy. Matt Leiszler and Nick Palazzo, neither one the starter at the beginning of the season, give Harvard a potent one-two rushing attack to complement the passing game. Harvard's balanced attack could provide the slight edge necessary for a victory between these almost identical teams.

"We've got to come out and just establish the run," Clare says. "We've got to control the line like we've done the last couple of games."

Even with The Game against Yale looming on the horizon, do not expect the Crimson to be looking ahead.