“The guys who filled in stepped up,” Murphy said. “It’s been just a great across-the-board team effort.”

On the Columbia side, Lions coach Bob Shoop looked upon the blowout as an opportunity to get his younger players some action.

“The score’s 38-nothing,” Shoop said matter-of-factly. “We could get our guys killed if we want, or we could find out what some of our young guys can do, give ’em a chance to play in games.”

FOURTH AND FOUR

While the Crimson is accustomed to large half-time leads, its 14 points in the first quarter were out of character. Before Saturday’s game, Harvard had only scored 32 total first-quarter points through seven games....Freshman kicker Matt Schindel was lights-out on all five extra-point attempts as well as on a 32-yard field goal....Sophomore punter Clem McDavid, filling in for the injured Mike King, had a solid day as well, averaging 37.8 yards per punt....O’Neill now has as many touchdowns, two, as Edwards despite 39 fewer receptions.

—Staff writer Lisa J. Kennelly can be reached at kennell@fas.harvard.edu.