GRIMM REALITY

Defensive end Michael Berg recorded four tackles, including a sack, in Harvard’s 34-24 win over Cornell last Saturday.

Not a bad performance by any stretch of the imagination, but one that seems far more impressive upon learning that he played more than three quarters of the game despite a broken bone in his leg.

Berg suffered an incomplete fracture of the fibula in his left leg during the first quarter when he was accidentally leg whipped by one of his teammates, yet, despite the discomfort, he managed to finish out the contest.

“I knew something wasn’t right when I got hit,” Berg said. “But when I got up to walk, I felt fine walking. I just thought it was a bruise.”

But post-game x-rays revealed the break, sidelining Berg for tomorrow’s game against Northeastern. Despite the serious nature of the injury, the sophomore said that he is only out week-to-week, and will be re-examined on Monday in the hopes of returning to action against Princeton on Oct. 23.

Fortunately for Harvard, the man Berg replaced, junior Erik Grimm, has sufficiently recovered from a strain of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his right knee, and will dress for tomorrow’s game after two weeks on the sidelines.

ALL THUMBS

Despite torn ligaments in his right thumb, Corey Mazza has racked up three consecutive 100-yard games and hauled in four touchdown passes thus far thus season.

Now he’ll find out whether he can post similar numbers with two bad thumbs.

Though he went on to post gaudy numbers—194 yards and two touchdowns on nine receptions—Mazza actually tore the ligaments in his left thumb on a routine play during Saturday’s win over Cornell.

While making a block, Mazza’s hand got tangled up in an opponent’s jersey, causing the injury.

As a precaution, Mazza did not catch passes during practice earlier this week, he said, and throughout the week he has sported a brace to support the thumb, but, as was the case with his other injury, he will play tomorrow unassisted.

“I got used to it with the other hand,” Mazza said. “But I’m not going to wear it in the game. It’s just a pain tolerance thing.”

PICK YOUR POISON

That leaves Northeastern facing the same decision that has frustrated Harvard’s opponents each game thus far this season. Double team Brian Edwards and take your chances with Mazza, or defend both equally and risk a big play by either?

Though the weather took the choice out of Holy Cross’ hands, coaches have chosen to force Mazza to beat them in each of the past three weeks, and on each occasion he has obliged, with an assist from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Northeastern coach Rocky Hager will likely not make the same mistake.

“I would say that there are packages that would create double coverage on either one of them,” Hager said. “Some of [our defense] will be formational, some of it will be pre-called.”

Whatever it is, the Huskies sure hope it works better than whatever they tried last year when Edwards shredded the secondary for 180 yards and two touchdowns on just seven receptions.

“We’re going to try tokeep that from happening again this year,” Hager said.

The complexion of Harvard’s offense has changed dramatically since then, though. In addition to Clifton Dawson’s emergence at tailback and Mazza’s breakout this year, Ryan Tyler has become a bona fide third option at wide receiver.

“We feel like they’re probably going to man up a little more on the outside,” Mazza said. “It’s tough to say because, if you go by last year, they’re going to want to double Brian really bad, but if they do that they’re going to be leaving Clifton alone and [Tyler] alone.”

“If you try to take away one of our options, we’re going to bring it,” he added. “You’ve got to pick your poison.”

Whichever target the Husky secondary tries to take from Fitzpatrick, chances are still good that he’ll be able to hit his chosen mark. Mazza (6’3) and Edwards (6’0) enjoy a considerable height advantage over Northeastern starting cornerbacks, Joe Okrah (5’9) and Bismark Osei (5’10).

—Staff writer Timothy J. McGinn can be reached at mcginn@fas.harvard.edu.