Though Harvard still leads Divison I-AA in total offense (502.9 ypg), it is coming off an anemic 16-point output against the Big Green. The Crimson ammassed 545 total yards, but did not score a single touchdown in three redzone chances.

That should change against Columbia, which has allowed teams to score on nine of 12 red zone opportunities in its last three games.

“We’re not really planning on altering our game plan [to take advantage of the secondary],” Schires said. “Our offense is pretty balanced. We’re not going to do anything but go out and execute our offense.”

Equally good news for the Crimson, whose quarterbacks combined to toss three interceptions in last week’s loss, is that the Lions defense is dead last in the league with only two interceptions all season.

Still after last week, the Crimson is not taking anything for granted.

“The only way we control our own destiny is by beating Columbia,” Murphy said.

Leading the Lions will be junior quarterback Jeff Otis, who has emerged as a one-man offense for Columbia. The 6’1” signal caller leads the league in pass attempts (39.3 per game) and with 279.2 passing yards per game, he trails only Payton Award candidate Alvin Cowan of Yale in that category.

On film, he has impressed the Harvard defense with his athleticism.

Otis also has a very big favorite target in 6’7” tight end Wade Fletcher. Fletcher is averaging 94.0 yards per game and could prove to be a problem for a Harvard secondary that has struggled against tall pass catchers.

Last week, Casey Cramer (6’2”), Jay Barnard (6’2”) and Andrew Hall (6’3”) combined to torch the Crimson for 291 receiving yards.

But the Crimson doesn’t plan on letting history repeat itself.

“There’s no question that last week was a setback, a game that we really should have won and could have won,” Murphy said. “But I was happy with the focus [of the team this week] and the intensity, so things are good.”

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