In the second quarter, the balance of power began to shift rapidly in the Crimson’s favor, starting with a play just over a minute into the frame.

Deep in Quaker territory, Penn running back Jeff Jack ran into Harvard sophomore linebacker Matt Martindale. That’s when senior defensive tackle Josue Ortiz took matters into his own hands—literally. The All-American punched the ball loose and fell on it, giving the Crimson tremendous field position. One play later, Winters hit sophomore tight end Cameron Brate in the end zone for the equalizing touchdown.

That proved to be the beginning of the end for the Quakers because, as Harvard coach Tim Murphy put it, the Crimson found its rhythm. The O-line patched up its holes, giving Winters breathing room and allowing the running game to flourish. Harvard rattled off 30 more points before Penn found the end zone again midway through the fourth quarter. But by that point, the Fat Lady was in the middle of an aria.

As time wound down at Harvard Stadium and the clock struck midnight on Penn’s title chances, a drenched Murphy led his team onto the field as the victors. Not just of the game, but of the title, of the Ancient Eight season.

To the untrained eye, then, it would seem that next week’s contest at the Yale Bowl is inconsequential. Without any league title implications attached, with nothing more than pride on the line, the game means nothing.

But crown or no crown, Ivy title or not, The Game is still The Game. It means everything.

And so, the Crimson’s work isn’t over just yet.

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