He put together a drive late in the second quarter but didn’t produce points. On a fourth down near midfield, he never saw a wide-open Jack Barann (junior tight end), who had split the seams of the defense. Yells erupted from the offensive coordinator booth.

“Experience, especially for a quarterback, is huge,” Hutton said. “Anytime you go up against the good defense that we have, you’re going to get better…. He’s improved a lot.”

Starting for the second-team offense, freshman Camden Bohn experienced more success. He finished a scorching 10-of-13 for 128 yards, albeit against a less fearsome defense.

FRONT FOUR WANTS MORE

Yes, the defensive line was dominant on Saturday. Players stuffed holes, bullied blockers, and got to Stewart.

Seniority underpinned the performance. Five players shared time, and four were juniors—Scott Evans, Stuart Johnson, Stone Hart, and Tristan Tahmaseb. Sophomore D.J. Bailey, an all-Ivy second-team selection last year, was the lone exception.

“That group in the spring has come a long way,” Hutton said. “Because you have so many high-character guys at that position, they push one another.”

No matter how impressive, the play of the defensive line left two questions. First, how can you know whether preseason promise will translate to in-season excellence? And second, how can you separate actual talent from the semblance of talent when matched up against a lesser unit?

There’s a reason that coaches describe linemen as “playing in the trenches.” Injuries abound. More than four months separate now from the season opener, and none can know who will be healthy come September.

The offensive line demonstrates this lesson. On Saturday, four mainstays didn’t suit up—junior Larry Allen, junior D.J. Mott, junior Mark Goldman, and sophomore Tim O’Brien. A younger core took their place.

“When you’re playing with a lot of young guys, there’s going to be mistakes,” Hutton said. “I’ve been there…. We’re really just looking for effort.”

SLASH IS CASH

Harvard coach Tim Murphy likes to recruit versatility. Specifically, he likes to recruit players who can line up at both running back and wide receiver. These commits are “slashers” because they might appear as “RB/WR” on a roster.

Saturday witnessed the rise of a new slasher—Henry Taylor. Listed as a wide receiver, Taylor started at running back for the second team. He tallied three scores, including a wheel-route reception in the second quarter. The 195-pound Taylor was so open that an offensive coach yelled, “Got him” as soon as the ball snapped.

By the end of the night, Taylor had accumulated 74 yards on 22 carries.