Harvard 28, Pennsylvania 21

In the biggest game of any Harvard player’s career and the last scheduled matchup of undefeated teams in the nation this season, the Crimson overcame a slow start to beat Penn, 28-21, and clinch at least a share of its first Ivy League title since 1997.

Morris caught two touchdown passes from Rose as the Crimson dominated the second half and turned a 14-7 halftime deficit into a 28-14 fourth-quarter lead. Morris caught a 20-yard touchdown to tie the game at 14, then made an amazing over-the-shoulder catch and eluded a defender for a 62-yard scoring strike to put the Crimson ahead for good.

The Quakers tried to rally late as reigning Ivy Offensive Player of the Year Gavin Hoffman hit Rob Milanese for a score to bring Penn within seven, and the Quaker defense held the Crimson on its ensuing possession.

But Balestracci, who also recovered an onside kick, batted Hoffman’s last-second Hail Mary to the ground, and fans rushed the field to celebrate.

Harvard fell behind early as Hoffman hit Colin Smith with a 30-yard touchdown pass to put the Quakers up, 7-0. On Penn’s next possession, tailback Kris Ryan, who leads the Ivy League in rushing, broke several tackles and rumbled 66 yards to give the Quakers a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Morris finished the day with nine receptions for 155 yards and set new Harvard standards for catches in a season

(66), breaking the record he set last season and career receptions (150), surpassing former teammate Terence

Patterson ’00.

The Harvard ground attack, led by Staph and Palazzo, piled up 145 yards against Penn’s nationally top-ranked run defense, which was allowing only 44 yards per game.