The ball hit the ground.

Simple as that.

When Yale junior Eric Johnson reached for a long pass from Bulldog quarterback Joe Walland in the end zone with 29 seconds left in the game, the crowd gasped, the referee signaled touchdown and the Harvard football players cried foul.

The play stood, and Yale had a 24-21 home victory to clinch a share of the Ivy title. Harvard (5-5, 3-4 Ivy) ended a season beset with disappointments with yet another one. Harvard's five losses came on a combined 18 points.

Highlights for the Crimson were many, though. Senior linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski, anchor of a tough, senior-laden defense, was drafted in the fourth round of the NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Kacyvenski finished his career as the only 40-game starter in the history of Harvard football, as well as the Crimson's all-time leading tackler with 395. Senior defensive end Mike Sands also signed a free agent contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Senior running back Chris Menick, who sat out the final game of the season with a sprained medial collateral ligament, broke Eion Hu's '97 career Harvard rushing record with 3,330 yards. He also had 28 touchdowns, one short of the school record.

Tight end Chris Eitzmann ably led the Crimson as a vocal leader on and off the field and ended up agreeing to a free-agent contract from the New England Patriots at the end of the year.

The biggest controversy for the Crimson was at quarterback where senior Rich Linden, a three-year starter, was replaced in his final year with long-time understudy and classmate Brad Wilford, who managed to hold onto his spot for much of the year.

Yale 24, Harvard 21

Before Johnson's catch, Harvard had the lead and the chance to hold on for the win. Senior running back Troy Jones scored a touchdown with 12:19 left in the game to give the Crimson a 21-17 lead.

Harvard senior safety Mike Brooks returned a blocked kick for a touchdown early in the second half in a play that gave Harvard a 14-3 lead and the driver's seat. Overall, the Crimson led for most of the game, including grabbing a 7-3 halftime lead.

Wilford completed 13-of-28 passes for 143 yards and one touchdown.

Penn 21, Harvard 17

Trailing 14-0 in the fourth quarter, with its offense completely ineffective, and Menick sidelined with a sprained MCL, the game appeared lost for Harvard. But a Kacyvenski interception set up Harvard's first touchdown of the game, and a spectacular 77-yard punt return by Patterson tied the game for the Crimson. After the Harvard defense forced the fourth Penn turnover of the game, a Mike Giampaolo field goal put the Crimson up 17-14 with 5:47 remaining.

An interception by linebacker Jeff Svicarovich with 2:51 remaining appeared to seal the game for the Crimson, but a Wilford fumble gave Penn the ball at its own 37-yard-line. Facing fourth-and-10, Penn quarterback Gavin Hoffman threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to receiver Brandon Carson, putting Penn up 21-17 in shocking fashion.

With all of its timeouts and 1:02 remaining, Harvard had the chance to come back and win the game, but the Crimson drive stalled at the Penn 33, and ended in a Wilford interception on fourth-and-10, Harvard's 11th turnover in its last two games.

Brown 17, Harvard 10

Though Brown and Harvard featured the top two offenses in the Ivy League entering the game, it was the defenses that controlled the contest. Despite turning the ball over four times in the first half, Harvard still led 10-3 early in the third quarter. But then Brown quarterback James Perry finally figured out the Harvard defense, completing 7-of-9 passes on a game-tying touchdown drive.