Dawson’s yard total crept higher and the Crimson lead swelled to 16. But with just under seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, it appeared that history would need to wait another week.

Yet another handoff to Dawson—his 31st carry of the game. A simple rush up the middle. But Harvard’s offensive line cast Princeton’s battered front three aside, a seam opened, and Dawson was gone.

And even in this, his brightest moment in the spotlight, the tailback was quick to deflect the praise and spread the credit to everyone but himself.

“I’m honored to be in the presence of such great backs that we’ve had at Harvard,” Dawson said. “I think that the fact that I was able to accomplish such a task, a feat midway through the season is a compliment to how well our offensive line has played...Their names deserve to be right up there beside mine.”

The touchdown was Dawson’s 26th in his two seasons, 25th rushing, and—surprise, surprise—moves him within striking distance of yet another record.

Mike Giardi ’94 holds the school record for career touchdowns with 29. Whether Dawson can shatter that mark with so fitting a score remains to be seen.

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