Moments before, the Crimson had been called for a roughing-the-kicker penalty on fourth down, setting up a first-and-goal at Harvard’s 10-yard line. Yale accepted the penalty even after Davis kicked the 38-yarder through the uprights. Harvard held its ground, stopping Hyland short on a keeper at the two-yard line and Yale was forced to settle for the field goal anyway.

Yale began the second half with the ball and scored on its opening drive, a two-yard dive by junior tailback Jay Schultze up the middle. On its next possession, Yale received the ball at its own 26-yard line with a chance to score a go-ahead touchdown, but went three-and-out with 6:41 remaining the third quarter. It was the first three-and-out forced by either team, and the result was the first punt of the game in the middle of the third quarter.

Hyland, who accounted for 444 yards of offense by himself Saturday, was playing in place of injured quarterback Peter Lee. Entering The Game, Hyland had thrown nine interceptions in 82 attempts in three games.

He threw only one Saturday, but it was the last pass of the 2001 season. Fried’s interception sealed Harvard’s perfect season.

For Harvard, losing to Yale had been a sorry tradition for the past three seasons. It led to plenty of second-guessing in the offseason.

There’s no need for that this year, Fried said.

“The monkey’s finally off our back.”