However, as soon as holder Andrew Johnson got the snap, he ran towards the line of scrimmage and threw a jump pass to senior tight end Leo Haenni. The Bulldogs scored four plays later. Later in the game, Yale converted on a fourth-and-one that set up another touchdown.

This is not to say that Harvard didn’t make big plays. Shelton-Mosley picked up a huge gain on fourth-and-three to set up Crimson’s first touchdown. However, Yale’s timely conversions gave the visitors much needed momentum.

“I just think that when you get in a game like this, it comes down to making plays,” Yale coach Tony Reno said. “We were able to make some plays,”

NO MORE STREAKING

For the first time in four years, the Harvard football team will not win at least a share of the Ivy League championship. Moreover, for the first time since 2006, the Crimson lost to Yale.

“It’s heartbreaking for our seniors because they had a chance to win an Ivy championship,” Murphy said. “It’s heartbreaking for our seniors because at the end of the day this game is about pride. As I’ve said before, [it’s] pride in our team, pride in our program, and certainly pride in our school first and foremost.”

What’s interesting is the way in which the streak ended. In most fans’ eyes, this playing of The Game felt like a sure victory for Harvard. The Crimson was 7-2 coming into the clash, with its only losses coming to non-conference foe Holy Cross and eventual Ivy League champion Penn. Yale, on the other hand, was 2-7 and starting a rookie quarterback on the road. However, none of that mattered between the sidelines on Saturday.

“It really teaches the young guys how to be leaders,” Yale freshman quarterback Kurt Rawlings said. “It’s the start of something new. There’s been a long streak; we didn’t really like to talk about it. But it’s over. Now it’s our streak.”

—Staff writer Gant Player can be reached at wplayer@college.harvard.edu.