{shortcode-f9b816fd831075a7a05b17ecf1145fe078dbc896}

Entering this past weekend, the Harvard football team had not lost to a non-conference opponent since losing to Holy Cross in 2011. The squad also hadn’t fallen on the road since succumbing to Penn in 2012, constituting the longest road winning-streak in the country.

But all things must come to an end.

It took 17 games for each streak to snap, but it happened. Holy Cross beat the Crimson 27-17 in Worcester this weekend, handing Harvard its first loss of the season.

There’s a silver lining to everything, though. A loss to a non-conference opponent means just about nothing in terms of winning a conference championship. And the Crimson are still atop the Ivy League standings.

D-LINE IS DIVINE

The loss certainly raised numerous questions about the Crimson this weekend. However, there is no question that the Harvard defensive line is one of the best in the Ivy League.

The front four is asserting itself in the run game, only allowing 100 yards per game to opponents—good for second in the Ivy League. Not only has the defense held foes to 3.6 yards per rush, but the unit has also only given up three touchdowns on the ground this season.

The defensive line contributed significantly to limiting Holy Cross to six points in the entire second half. Six sacks by the Crimson defenders kept Harvard in the game.

“I thought our defense played, at times, heroically in the second half [of the game],” Harvard coach Tim Murphy said.

On top of their ability to stop the run, the defensive line is pivotal in the passing game. Harvard has been led by sophomore defensive end DJ Bailey’s Ivy League-leading 4.5 sacks.

But it hasn’t been just one guy. The team has racked up 14 sacks on the season, with 11 different players having recorded at least half a sack so far this season. Nine of those players are defensive linemen.

NO SHINE WITHOUT STARS

Before this weekend, the Crimson was averaging 192 rushing yards a game. Against Holy Cross, the offensive unit gained a measly 26.

Harvard sat senior quarterback Joe Viviano, junior running back Semar Smith, and sophomore wide receiver Justice Shelton-Mosley on Saturday.