The Bulldogs, who were averaging 173.6 rushing yards per game before Saturday, began the contest with six consecutive handoffs—all to sophomore standout Robert Carr—before throwing on the first play of their second drive.

Of Yale’s 11 first-quarter plays, nine were runs. The other two were incomplete passes, as the Bulldogs had a tough time getting any offensive rhythm going early.

Yale didn’t cross midfield until early in second quarter, when a 23-yard run by Carr brought the Bulldogs right to the 50.

Yale was able to get some momentum from there and quarterback Jeff Mroz found Lawrie for two key pass plays to put the Bulldogs in position for their first score of the day.

But Yale’s inability to establish a running game in the later stages of the contest was its downfall. During the third quarter—when Harvard scored 20 points to take control—the Bulldogs netted minus-9 rushing yards.

“They ran the ball as well as anyone in the league, and our defense did a great job,” Murphy said. “We made them do what they weren’t happy doing, which was throwing the football.”

‘Plan B’

The Crimson running game, meanwhile, mirrored that of the Elis in the first quarter. Nine of Harvard’s first 10 plays were runs, but at the end of the quarter, the Crimson had gained just 38 yards on the ground.

Things got going slowly and senior tailback Nick Palazzo and sophomore quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick combined for 150 yards and three touchdowns on the ground by game’s end.

Palazzo was the workhorse, carrying the ball 26 times for 95 yards and a touchdown in his final game at Harvard.

“Some games, your role might be pass-blocking, but when it’s crappy weather, you’re going to be between the tackles,” Palazzo said.

“Because of the elements, we had to go to ‘Plan B,’” Murphy added. “We had to put it in the offensive line’s hands. They did a great job physically. Nick Palazzo was huge, and [the Elis] realized that they had to stop our running game with Ryan back there.”

Rosy homecoming

Harvard senior captain and Miliani, Hawaii, native Neil Rose will play in his home state for the first time since high school during the Hula Bowl on Feb. 1.

Morris, who will play in the East-West Shrine Game at Pacific Bell Park on Jan. 11, has also been invited to play in the Hula Bowl.

The Hula Bowl, held at War Memorial Stadium in Kahului, Hawaii, annually attracts some of the nation’s top seniors.

—Staff writer Jon Paul Morosi can be reached at morosi@fas.harvard.edu