The Crimson’s hopes rest largely on the defensive line, which gives up a mere 92 rushing yards per game. The senior Cerberus of Langston Ward, Doug Webb, and James Duberg anchors the unit, but sophomore D.J. Bailey has morphed into a monster of his own, leading the team with six sacks.
Last Friday, that defensive line held Penn to a lackluster 21 rushing yards on 20 tries and gave the offense an opportunity to sneak back into the game. Which the offense did, powered by key throws from the senior Viviano.
The 220-pound Viviano embodies the following paradox: How fast can a man with two broken feet run? Pretty darn fast, it turns out.
After breaking both his feet in separate incidents as a junior, Viviano has emerged as one of the shiftiest Crimson quarterbacks in recent years. He has topped 10 rushing attempts in all but one start and scored five touchdowns.
Success through the air has come and gone in spurts. The senior has completed 62 percent of his throws for 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions. But against the Quakers, Viviano tossed three picks before halftime to dig a 14-3 hole.
“It wasn’t Joe’s best game, but I know he’s a good quarterback,” Murphy said. “We believe in him. He’ll certainly be ready to play this week.”
Whenever Viviano passes, he tends to focus on three players: senior Anthony Firkser, and sophomores Justice Shelton-Mosley and Adam Scott.
Firkser is the latest in a line of dominant tight ends. At 230 pounds, the NFL prospect mixes bowl-you-over power with catch-me-later speed. He puts up 15 yards per grab and leads all targets with seven touchdowns.
Although Shelton-Mosley has notched a single score, he has caught at least five passes every time that he has taken the field. He has sure hands and silky strides—assets that distinguish him as a kick returner.
Scott shares the workload with Shelton-Mosley, which is fitting because the off-field roommates also share a double. Thanks to a lingering muscle injury, the 5’7” Scott didn’t see action until late October, but he has electrified the Ancient Eight ever since. Averaging 80 all-purpose yards a game, Scott blows past opponents on screen passes, jet sweeps, and quick slants.
These receiving weapons might cause nightmares for a Bulldogs secondary that allows 296 passing yards per contest. In terms of scoring defense, Yale ranks last in the league by nearly a touchdown, conceding over 36 points per outing.
“When you analyze the athletes they have on the field, they have a ton of great athletes,” Murphy said. “Depth doesn’t seem to be an issue for Yale. They just haven’t put it all together.”
Injuries have plagued the Bulldogs throughout the year. Three quarterbacks have started games, and three running backs have topped 100 rushing yards.
However, Yale seems to have settled on a solid duo in freshman quarterback Kurt Rawlings and freshman running back Alan Lamar. In week five, Rawlings led the Bulldogs to a stirring win against Columbia, and the 5’9” Lamar has averaged 4.4 yards per carry.
The safety position is one source of veteran talent for Yale, as four-year starter Foyesade Oluokun and junior Hayden Carlson man the position. Back-end talent compensates for upfront weakness, as the Bulldogs are tied for last in the Ancient Eight with 15 sacks.
In any rivalry game, however, past performances mean little when the two opponents take the field.
Harvard has played nine games so far. But practically and emotionally, the results of the first nine mean nothing without a triumph in the finale.
Just ask Murphy, who has overseen 22 editions of The Game. His final thoughts?
“Expect the unexpected,” the coach said. “It’s the Harvard-Yale game.”
—Staff writer Sam Danello can be reached at sam.danello@thecrimson.com.