“We didn’t consider pulling him before the half,” Murphy said.

Perhaps Murphy should have.

With the much more mobile Fitzpatrick at the helm, the Quakers embraced a defensive philosophy that so many opponents have this season—you can’t blitz Fitz.

With the Penn defense softened out of respect for his scrambling ability, the offensive line received a much-needed reprieve. Fitzpatrick led the Crimson on four of its five longest drives of the afternoon, as well as its only score.

But the game was already over.

It was the second time this season that Fitzpatrick has proven more effective than Rose in the face of a strong pass rush.

A month ago, then-No. 14 Northeastern traveled to Harvard Stadium for Rose’s first start since returning from his sciatic nerve injury. But when the senior struggled in the face of a bombardment of blitzes, Murphy sent in Fitzpatrick.

The sophomore quickly turned a 10-0 deficit into a 14-10 lead, but couldn’t carry the Crimson to victory .

On Saturday, neither quarterback could.

—Staff writer Lande A. Spottswood can be reached at spottsw@fas.harvard.edu.