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­At the outset of the 2016 Ivy League football season, few expected Cornell to turn around its program in such a short time frame. Just a year ago, the Big Red finished dead last in the Ancient Eight with a 1-6 record. Cornell was outscored by 118 points in those seven games collectively and also lost all three of its non-conference games.

Those unpropitious statistics are what make the Big Red’s accomplishments this year so impressive. Before they met with Harvard this past Saturday, the Ithacans had won their first three contests. These victories included a convincing 14-point win against Yale and a furious come-from-behind triumph over No. 25 Colgate.

Despite the stunning progress Cornell has made in just one offseason, it was still no match for a Harvard team that seems more and more invincible by the week. The Crimson strolled to its second Ivy win of the season, a 29-13 victory over the Big Red in Cambridge, bolstered by defensive success across the board and an offensive attack centered around the rush.

CORNERING THE MARKET

After a key pass breakup or a timely interception, one may see Harvard’s defensive backs celebrating with each other by putting a fist to their helmets and making a knocking motion.

“We have this thing within the defensive backs called knuckleheads,” junior safety Tanner Lee said. “As freshmen, we came in and we would always make mistakes, and that’s how we got that [nickname] so we just kept it going.”

On the third Big Red drive of the game, sophomore quarterback Dalton Banks spotted senior wide receiver Ben Rogers running a deep slant. Down 7-0, Cornell looked to even the score early, and Banks beat the coverage with a perfectly delivered toss hitting Rogers in the hands. On the play, Lee trailed Rogers by two steps.

Lee more than redeemed himself over the course of the game, coming up with two interceptions to go along with the pick by sophomore linebacker Anthony Camargo on Cornell’s first offensive snap.

The knuckleheads were the main reason Banks was held to only 19 completions on 39 passes. Though there are still moments when mistakes are made leading to gaps in coverage, the group has evolved and improved in its three years in the program.

In spite of allowing a few momentous plays, the Crimson secondary has been an overall strength through four games. Opponents have been held to 18. 3 points per game, and contributions from Lee, captain Sean Ahern, senior safety Kolbi Brown, and senior cornerback Raishaun McGhee, among others, have been a key factor in Harvard’s defensive prowess.

STAYING GROUNDED

It has been noted before that the major difference between the Crimson’s quarterbacks for the past two seasons is athleticism. Last year’s starter, Scott Hosch, was a pocket passer, while senior quarterback Joe Viviano creates plays with both his arm and his legs.

This contest against Cornell marked the first time Viviano found himself opposed by a quarterback who liked running the ball as much as he did.

Banks carried the ball 12 times for 29 yards, and although his 2.4 yards per carry figure was subpar at best, he has shown an affinity for the run early on in his career. In his three starts to begin this season, Banks ran the ball 28 times.