The Harvard defense, anchored by captain Collin Zych, who led all defenders with 12 sacks, did what it could given the amount of time it spent on the field. But the Bears proved too effective at third-down conversions, successfully turning eight of 11 in the opening half alone.

“They did some things that they pretty much do each week, and they did it to us last year,” Brown coach Phil Estes said. “We just tried to take advantage and hope that they gave us the same coverage. We got it and made some plays.”

The Crimson was plagued by penalties, both on offense and defense, giving the Bears yardage while hindering its own.

“We need to become a mentally tougher team,” Murphy said. “That doesn’t mean there’s a gaping hole in that, but the bottom line is that they were the mentally tougher, physically tougher team [Saturday].”

Despite the loss, all hope is not gone for Harvard. Brown beat the Crimson in the 2008 conference opener, and Harvard was able to rally and share the Ivy League title.

Perhaps, like in that season, like in the game against Holy Cross, and like the Bears on Saturday night, Harvard can find its own measure of magic.

—Staff writer B. Marjorie Gullick can be reached at gullick@college.harvard.edu.