But that would be the only Crimson touchdown of the day. Harvard had little trouble breaking midfield, but once in Dartmouth territory the offense sputtered.

“I thought they played a good game of an almost bend-but-don’t-break philosophy,” said Fitzpatrick of Dartmouth’s defense. “We did put some drives together but just didn’t get it done, just didn’t make enough plays at the end of our drives.”

Freshman place kicker Matt Schindel, who has been the most consistent kicker in recent Harvard history, also had an up-and-down day. He made two field goals but also had one blocked and missed a 34-yard attempt wide left in the fourth quarter.

Conversely, the Crimson defense kept the Big Green out of rhythm and made big plays when they counted. After shutting out Dartmouth through the first half, the Harvard defense slipped slightly in the third quarter but managed to hold strong when it mattered.

After a questionable Brian Edwards fumble, the Big Green assumed possession at its own 40-yard line, and two plays later running back Chad Gaudet broke through the line and raced 60 yards for a score. Following a missed extra point by Tyler Lavin, however, the score stood at 10-6.

Late in the fourth quarter, Harvard’s defense once again put the clamps on when they were needed. Following an impressive drive that culminated in a 12-yard touchdown pass from Shula to wide receiver Bob Murphy that closed the Crimson lead to 13-12, Dartmouth coach John Lyons elected to go for two rather than attempting the extra point and the tie.

But on the conversion attempt, Shula lofted the ball to Murphy in the back left corner of the end zone where sophomore cornerback Daniel Tanner batted the ball down and preserved the lead, setting up the game’s frantic finish.

“We look like a bunch of guys who want to get on the bus and get out of Dodge,” Tim Murphy said following his team’s escape. “But again there are no style points in football.”

No, there aren’t. There are just wins and losses, and three more victories will make Harvard perfect and Ivy champions.

—Staff writer David H. Stearns can be reached at stearns@fas.harvard.edu.