Rose credited the offensive line for the Crimson’s late success running the ball.
“We are a very well-conditioned football team,” Rose said. “The offensive line just never gave up. Run or pass you need a good offensive line.”
Taking advantage of big plays from the special teams unit, Harvard jumped out to an early lead with touchdowns on its first two possessions.
On the game’s first drive, the Crimson faced fourth-and-11 on its own 44 yard line. Harvard lined up in punt formation, but, instead of going to sophomore punter Adam Kingston, the snap was fielded by sophomore tight end Matt Fratto. Fratto ran for 29 yards to easily pick up the first down.
“We felt that a conservative game plan wasn’t going to get it done against these guys,” Murphy said. “We had to go for every big play opportunity we had.”
The Crimson was flagged for delay of game on the next play, but on first-and-15 Rose connected with senior wideout Dan Farley for a 33-yard score with 11:27 remaining in the first quarter.
Another big play set up the Crimson’s second score.
On the ensuing Husky possession, the Harvard defense forced a three-and-out. But on fourth-and-10 on the Husky 27, a bad snap from center sailed over sophomore punter Tyler Grogan’s head. Grogan picked up the ball and desperately attempted to get the kick away amid a swarm of Crimson defenders, but the punt was blocked.
Harvard took over on the Northeastern 15 and scored four plays later on a one-yard plunge by Rose with 8:24 left in the first quarter.
The lead was cut in half quickly. The Huskies took over on the Harvard 45 with 2:17 remaining in the first quarter. A 16-yard completion from Galli to senior wideout Michael Mack set up a 24-yard touchdown run by senior fullback Sean Connor. Nate Mullaugh’s kick brought the score to 14-7 with 1:58 remaining in the quarter.
A fumble on the Crimson’s next possession by junior tailback Rodney Thomas, Harvard’s first offensive turnover of the year, halted a 58-yard drive. After struggling on a three-and-out its next possession, the Crimson scored quick consecutive touchdowns late in the second quarter to take the momentum going into halftime.
With 4:40 remaining in the half, Harvard took over at its own 28 yard line following an interception by senior linebacker Eric LaHaie.
Rose scrambled for 22 yards on the first play, setting up first-and-10 at midfield. On the next play, Farley reached around a Husky defender while sprawled out in midair to make a spectacular 23-yard diving catch. Farley led all Harvard receivers with four catches for 78 yards.
“There is no question that we foresaw that they would double team [All-Ivy wideout] Carl [Morris],” Murphy said, “but we knew going into the season that we wanted to get Dan Farley the ball more. We knew going in that besides Carl he was the guy making the most plays.”
On third-and-five two plays later, Rose hit Morris for a 22-yard scoring strike with 1:59 remaining in the half. Sophomore Robbie Wright’s kick gave Harvard a 21-7 lead.
Wright’s ensuing kickoff went for a touchback, and the Huskies took over on their own 20. Behind the steady rushing of McKansas and Galli’s longest completion of the afternoon, a 20-yard strike to junor wideout Peter Cegerenko, Northeastern marched down to Harvard’s 12 yard line.
But just when a Husky score seemed inevitable, Fried surged through the line to stick Galli and force a fumble that was recovered by Perry who carried the ball 85 yards for the score. It was Harvard’s first fumble recovery for a touchdown since 1980.
“When I got to the 20, I just thought ‘Don’t get caught.’ I haven’t run that far since high school,” Perry said.
Perry, who had 10 tackles on the afternoon, was just one of several players that stepped up for the defense playing without sophomore linebacker Dante Balestracci and senior defensive end Phil Scherrer, both All-Ivy players. Lahaie registered 10 tackles to go along with his interception, and junior Collin Blackburn posted eight tackles while filling in for Balestracci.
Scherrer is probable for Saturday’s game against Cornell, according to Murphy, but the status of Balestracci as well as senior center Jason Hove and senior tailback Josh Staph is questionable.