Lafayette put together a 53-yard drive in the waning moments but turned the ball over on downs after a false start and sack set up a fourth-and-21.

Scheuerman’s injury was the last in a string of impactful ones for Lafayette Saturday. Quarterback Drew Reed started the game after missing multiple weeks, but was knocked out of the game during his second drive. In his stead, sophomore Blake Searfoss threw for 274 yards on 23-of-42 passing with no interceptions.

Senior left tackle Luke Chiarolanzio was also forced out of the game with a torn bicep.

Searfoss and Scheuerman had success but they moved the chains on just five of their 17 third-down plays and kicker Ryan Gralish missed both of his field goal attempts after a couple drives stalled in Harvard territory.

“The most frustrating stuff we did to ourselves: seven dropped passes [and] two missed field goals certainly changed the complexion of the game,” Lafayette coach Frank Tavani said. “Obviously you can’t win like that and particularly against an undefeated team and as talented of a team as Harvard is.”

Harvard was no better on its third downs, getting a first down less than 20 percent of the time. It failed to convert on all seven of its third-downs in the second half.

“We need to be a more consistent offense, there's no question about it,” Murphy said. “That's a combination of a lot of factors, and we've got to do it with whatever personnel's available. We had two wide receivers out today, a tight end out today, our left guard out today, our quarterback out today, and despite that, at times played very well but we need to—regardless who's in there—be in sync, eliminate mental mistakes, we have to eliminate penalties, and we have to play better.”

Still, Murphy credited the mental toughness in his team to remain unbeaten.

“Our goal was to be undefeated tonight…so mission accomplished,” he said.

—Staff writer Jacob D. H Feldman can be reched at jacob.feldman@thecrimson.com.