But all season, whenever things get too close, the defense performs some miracle as if on cue. And that’s why you weren’t scared in overtime on Saturday.

“We gave up some big plays, and that’s something we need to work on,” Everett said. “But when it came down to it, we knew we weren’t going to lose that game.”

Of course not, because Harvard may not be consistent, but it is clutch.

After the defense held the Tigers to a field goal in the first overtime period, the offense took the field. Harvard coach Tim Murphy ran freshman Clifton Dawson four straight times—enough to raise his game total to 40 carries—down to the four-yard line where the Crimson faced third-and-goal.

Harvard called a time out and Murphy and offensive coordinator Dave Cecchini pulled out a clutch play. Garrett Schires then threw a clutch pass, and Rodney Byrnes—with two defenders hanging on him—made a clutch catch in the front of the end zone to win the game.

Sorry for the repetition, but that is the only word that describes this team accurately. In the last three seasons, Harvard has never lost a close Ivy League game, but it has won tons of them.

Why? Ask the coach.

“I’m not sure we outplayed them today,” Murphy said. “Our kids just found a way to win.”

His kids always seem to do just that.

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