HANOVER, N.H.—Forget about the SI Jinx.

His first game after being featured in Sports Illustrated, senior All-American Carl Morris turned in arguably the best performance of his career to lead Harvard to a 31-26 victory over Dartmouth at Memorial Field on Saturday.

The win—the Crimson’s 11th straight against Ivy opponents—kept Harvard (5-2, 4-0 Ivy) firmly atop the Ivy League standings and left the Big Green (3-4, 2-2) looking toward next season.

On a day when the Crimson’s running and kicking games were atrocious, the aerial attack was as good as it has ever been.

Morris teamed up with senior quarterback Neil Rose—who made the most of his return to the starter’s role—to break seven school records and provide an unforgettable offensive performance.

“We said going in, we’re going to have to ride [Morris],” said Harvard coach Tim Murphy. “Even when he’s double-covered, he finds a way to come up with the ball.”

Perhaps the only person who won’t forever remember Morris’ 21-catch, 257-yard day is Morris himself.

With seven minutes remaining in the game and Harvard leading 24-19, Morris sustained a blow to the head while hauling in an eight-yard reception. He departed with a mild concussion and did not return.

But by the time sophomore Rodney Byrnes capped the same drive with a three-yard plunge with 3:49 to play, Morris was bouncing happily on the sidelines and the Crimson had a 31-19 lead. The Crimson’s lead—and its star receiver—were healthy again.

Harvard received one final scare on a late but furious Big Green comeback attempt.

Needing only a first down to run out the clock, sophomore back-up tailback Ricky Williamson fumbled to halt a game-sealing drive on the Dartmouth 18-yard line. With 1:47 remaining in the game, Big Green senior quarterback Brian Mann engineered an 11-play, 82-yard drive that ended with an 11-yard strike to junior wide receiver Jay Barnard.

The touchdown pulled Dartmouth within one score with 16 seconds remaining, but when the onside kick attempt bounced straight into the grasp of the always sure-handed sophomore Dante Balestracci, the comeback came to a close.

“Coming in we felt that they are a very good, young, aggressive football team,” Murphy said. “They had a furious comeback. We never felt like we had put them away.”

Leading 18-13 at the half, Harvard had a chance to ice the game in the third quarter, when the usually potent Dartmouth offense was checked.

The Big Green began each of its first three drives of the second half near midfield, needing to drive only 50 yards to take the lead. But the Crimson defense put together an impressive stretch of stinginess, forcing two three-and-outs and a fumble.