While Ortiz and the defensive line have effectively shut down the running game, the Harvard secondary hasn’t enjoyed the same level of success. Plagued by inconsistency, the Crimson back line has yielded 232.9 passing yards per game, third worst in the league.

For the Bulldogs, though, perhaps the onus of victory falls on the defense, as it tries to slow down a multifaceted Harvard attack that ranks near the top of the conference in virtually every offensive category. Ten points away from tying the all-time Crimson scoring record for a single season, Harvard has a number of weapons at its disposal, both through the air and on the ground.

Leading the charge is senior quarterback Collier Winters. After missing Weeks 2-5 due to injury, the senior quickly reestablished himself as a dual threat. Averaging 247.8 yards per game through the air, Winters also has 211 rushing yards in his five games behind center.

“I can tell you right now, Collier is … playing at a whole other level,” Scales says. “The man is ballin’. It’s great to see.”

At his disposal, Winters has one of the deepest receiving corps in the league. In addition to senior wide receivers Alex Sarkisian and long-time big-play target Chris Lorditch, the quarterback also looks to tight ends junior Kyle Juszczyk and sophomore Cam Brate. Considered by Murphy to be perhaps the two best tight ends in his 18-year tenure, the duo has combined for 13 touchdown receptions and 753 yards receiving.

That depth at the receiver position permeates many aspects of the Crimson attack, including at running back, where Scales and freshman Zach Boden split carries. The rushing game has picked up steam as the year has progressed, and Scales now averages nearly five yards per touch while Boden comes in at just over six.

“Treavor Scales and Zach Boden are two of the best running backs in the league,” Winters maintains.

But Harvard will have to contend with a physical Yale defensive line. And while the Crimson offensive line gave Winters solid protection in the year’s first seven games, the past two haven’t gone as smoothly.

“[Yale] has a pretty big defensive line, so I think they’ll try and use that to stop our run and probably end up putting a little more pressure on the passing game,” Winters says. “[But] I think the offensive line will be ready. We’ll have some extra film sessions this week just to make sure.”

Put it all together, and against Harvard’s league-best offense and a formidable front seven defensively, the Bulldogs have their work cut out for them.

“If Yale beats us, they will have earned it, because we have no excuses,” Murphy says. “None. End of story. We’ll be ready to play.”

—Staff writer Robert S. Samuels can be reached at robertsamuels@college.harvard.edu.