BEST EXAMPLE OF FAMILY VALUES

By Harvard junior cornerback Chris Raftery, who finished the game with a game-high 12 tackles and an interception. Instead of lapping up praise at the post-game press conference, Raftery made sure to meet up with his family, which had traveled across the country from Seattle to see him play.

BEST REMINDER YOU JUST GRADUATED YOUR ALL-TIME LEADING PLACEKICKER

On Saturday the Tigers elected to go for it twice on fourth downs inside the Harvard 30, failing both times, and freshman kicker Derek Javarone botched a 38-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter. Princeton sorely missed Taylor Northrop ’02, its All-Ivy kicker who could boot 50-yarders with ease.

BEST CASE OF RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME

By junior DE Brian Garcia, who was just milling around in the middle of the field when Princeton QB Matt Verbit’s misfiring hit him in the hands. The pick ended the Tigers’ last-chance drive in the game’s final minute.

BIGGEST STATEMENT OF THE OBVIOUS

Verbit, describing said interception, which appeared targeted for no one in particular: “That was just a bad throw.”

WORST SHOW OF DISCIPLINE

By Harvard, who amassed a whopping 89 yards in penalties. In particular, the Harvard offensive line continued its ugly trend of accumulating dead-ball personal fouls, forcing the offense to drive 15 extra yards on its second-quarter march that ultimately gave the Crimson a 14-7 lead.

HAPPIEST TO SEE ROSE BACK UNDER CENTER

Junior TE Matt Fratto, whose four catches on Saturday eclipsed his previous season total of three. Fratto, who ranks among Rose’s favorite targets, had three times as many receiving yards at Princeton as he had in Harvard’s first five games combined.

BIGGEST BANG FOR HIS BUCK

Senior TB Nick Palazzo, who had just 12 carries Saturday and was only the game’s fourth-leading rusher per carry. Three of his rushes went for touchdowns, though, moving him into the national top-10 in scoring with 10.8 ppg.

BEST CONVERSION RATIO

Harvard’s defense forced five turnovers Saturday. Three of them produced scores; a fourth, Garcia’s interception, clinched the win.

BIGGEST ROLE REVERSAL

From hero to culprit, by Princeton cornerback Jay McCareins. McCareins had ended three potential game-winning drives in the last two games with an interception. On Saturday, he aided and abetted Harvard’s game-winning drive, getting flagged for pass interference on a throw to senior WR Carl Morris. The penalty set Harvard up on the Princeton 2. The Crimson scored two plays later.

MOST BLACK AND BLUE AFTER MEETING THE CRIMSON

Princeton quarterback David Splithoff, who has been forced to leave each of the Tigers’ last two games against Harvard at Princeton Stadium early due to injury. Two years ago, he suffered a broken jaw that ended his season; on Saturday, he dislocated his shoulder.

WORST ENTRANCE

Verbit, who was intercepted on his second play of the game.

WORST EXIT

Verbit, who was intercepted on his last play of the game.