With the game’s final moments set to tick away, the Princeton kicker trudged onto the field, ready to put an end to his school’s inglorious streak of losing to Harvard.

After a clean snap and hold, the ball was on its way.

No good. Wide left.

It is an image that is becoming all too familiar to Tigers fans. Twice in the past three years a Princeton team has exploded inside Harvard Stadium—threatening to disrupt a Crimson perfect season and to end its own agonizing streak of defeats at Harvard’s hands—only to implode on special teams in the game’s final moments.

In 2001, it was captain Taylor Northrup, widely considered one of the finest kickers ever produced by the Ivy League and a prospect for the professional ranks, who played spoiler for his own squad.

Down 28-26 with time about to expire, with the field goal attempt spotted at the 39, the kick went up but faded left in the swirling winds.

Two years later, with 22 seconds remaining, Derek Javarone’s kick wasn’t nearly as close. Low and left, the treacherous open end of Harvard stadium swallowed it along with Princeton’s chances of victory.

Just Wishing and Hoping

The only good news for the Crimson special teams unit Saturday was that Princeton’s was just as bad.

Sophomore placekicker Jim Morocco returned to action for the first time since the season opener against Holy Cross with equally dismal results. Morocco missed his first extra point try, prompting Harvard coach Tim Murphy to attempt two-point conversions after the Crimson’s next three touchdowns, with each attempt failing.

“Well, if you come to practice, we have the world’s best kickers,” Murphy said. “It’s just a different ball game in the game.”

Frustrated with the lack of success, Murphy sent Morocco out for a second try just seven seconds into the fourth quarter. A botched snap thwarted his chance at redemption.

With 6:52 remaining in the fourth, Morocco finally knocked one through to a standing ovation from Princeton and Harvard fans alike.

Senior kicker Adam Kingston booted two kickoffs out of bounds and freshman tailback Clifton Dawson allowed one that would have sailed out of bounds to hit him in the face mask, losing 25 yards in the process.

Kingston’s problems were not only of his own making.