“I think it’s a combination of a great job by our assistant coaches,” Murphy said, “and our kids just buying into finishing people off and getting off the field.”Everett, whose 62 season tackles figures as the team’s second best, praised the team’s collective effort.

“It’s very hard to say who’s been the star,” he said, “because from day to day it’s a different person doing something outstanding.”

On Saturday, the stars were Thomas and sophomore tackle Michael Berg.

The two contributed to 13 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for a loss and 2 sacks.

For two games, Berg has played on a broken leg.

“Michael Berg is an amazing football player,” Murphy said, “when you consider he is only a sophomore.”

Toughness is only one quality that separates Berg from the rest.

“He’s a 400-pound bench presser,” Murphy said. “He can really run and change directions. But the thing that really makes him an outstanding young player is that his instincts are so natural.”

On the progression to stardom, Berg will hope to repeat Saturday’s performance next week.

He has never experienced a win against Penn. Neither has 80 percent of the Harvard roster, for that matter.

To change that, all the Crimson has to do is emulate its enemy.

So far, so good.

—Staff writer Alex McPhillips can be reached at rmcphill@fas.harvard.edu.