Defensively, junior linebacker Dante Balestracci has had another stellar campaign for the Crimson, leading the team in both tackles (84) and sacks (4).

However, Harvard also has a strong core of seniors on the defensive side of the ball, led by linebackers John Perry and Niall Murphy, free safety Xavier Goss, and defensive end Mike Armstrong.

Perry has 69 tackles on the season, good for second on the team, while Murphy has racked up 36 tackles to go with three interceptions. Armstrong has solidified the defensive line with two sacks and two fumble recoveries while registering 31 tackles.

Yale’s Young Guns

While Harvard has seniors leading the way at quarterback, tailback, wide receiver, and on much of the defense, Yale’s skill position players are almost exclusively underclassmen.

Sophomore quarterback Jeff Mroz has taken the snaps for the Elis since junior Alvin Cowan’s injury at the start of the season.

While he was an untested sophomore coming into the year—having never before completed a pass—Mroz has responded admirably. On the year, Mroz has completed 56.3 percent of his passes for 1,597 yards and 13 touchdowns with only five interceptions.

Mroz stands tall in the pocket at 6’5 and with good protection can linger behind the line and make the necessary throws. Unlike the injured Cowan, though, Mroz does not have an overwhelming ability to run.

“Mroz has gotten a lot better over the course of the year,” Murphy said. “But we’ve played against a lot of good quarterbacks this year, and as always, the key to defending a good quarterback is putting a lot of pressure on him.”

Mroz has had help on offense from sophomores Robert Carr and Ralph Plumb, as well as juniors Nate Lawrie and Ron Benigno.

At tailback, Carr has established himself as one of the top runners in the Ivy League, rushing for 1,008 yards on 212 carries for an average of 4.8 yards per attempt.

Wide receivers Plumb and Benigno have 77 catches and eight touchdowns between them. While Plumb has been the go-to guy with 52 receptions, Benigno has been able to stretch the field with an 18.2 yard average per catch as well as five touchdowns.

Lawrie has also given Mroz a solid target in the middle of the field at tight end, catching 34 balls for 434 yards and four touchdowns.

“Our young skill players have matured as they have gained experience,” Siedlecki said. “Their confidence in themselves and each other has grown all year and the big plays have really started to come over the last three games.”

On defense, the Elis are led by captain Jason Lange. Lange has 39 tackles and four sacks on the season from his defensive tackle position.