NOTEBOOK: Stanton and Hempel Carry Crimson to Victory

When things weren’t working in the air, the Harvard football team turned to the ground game. And that just may have bought the Crimson a win on Saturday.

Playing against Dartmouth at Harvard Stadium, the Crimson received big rushing performances from sophomore running back Paul Stanton and junior quarterback Conner Hempel. Stanton amassed 151 yards on 26 carries, and Hempel rushed for 77 and a touchdown, as the duo guided Harvard to a tight, 24-21 victory over the Big Green.

The Crimson’s passing game, meanwhile, never really seemed to get into a rhythm. Hempel only threw for 135 yards, with most of his looks coming on screen passes, wheel routes, or short crosses.

According to Harvard coach Tim Murphy, the gameplan going in had been to establish the ground game and adapt according to the results.

“We really need to be a physical team,” Murphy said. “We need to be a balanced team to beat the best teams in our league. We can’t come out there and chuck the ball 50 times and really establish an identity.”

That meant plenty of action was coming Stanton’s way. And the sophomore responded with a big performance.

Stanton demonstrated his ability to create a run from nothing on the last play of the first quarter. Seemingly trapped after taking a handoff on the right side of the line, Stanton reversed his direction on a dime, cut around the line to the left sideline, and—after benefiting from a timely Hempel block—dashed for 63 yards into the Dartmouth red zone for the longest run of his career.

Harvard repeatedly relied on Stanton to barrel the ball down the field through inside handoffs up the gut and option plays to the outside. The back is averaging nearly 120 yards per game over the last three contests.

Hempel supplemented Stanton’s performance by making a number of plays on the ground himself. On the Crimson’s second drive of the game with the ball on the Dartmouth nine-yard line, Hempel faked the handoff and rushed up the middle, absorbing a hit as he drove into the end zone for the score.

Harvard ran the ball 51 times on Saturday, the team’s highest total all season.

COMING THROUGH IN THE CLUTCH

With just under six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, it was anybody’s ballgame.

But the Crimson made all that change on one crucial drive. Marching 56 yards down the field, Harvard knocked in the game-winning field goal and took control of the game by keeping the Dartmouth offense off the field.

Harvard began with good field position at its own 38, but the drive did not come easily. Faced with an early third down and four, senior receiver Scott Miller took the ball on an end around and barely managed to propel himself forward for a first down.

The Crimson had another third down a few minutes later just outside the Dartmouth red zone. This time it was senior receiver Ricky Zorn who took the end around and scampered for a nine-yard gain.

Zorn’s carry moved the ball to the 12-yard line and put the Crimson in the driver’s seat. A few plays later, junior kicker Andrew Flesher—who missed a potential game-winning try last week against Princeton—converted a 23-yard attempt to give Harvard the lead.

Having left the field with 5:46 left in the fourth quarter, the Big Green offense did not get another shot until just 43 seconds remained on the clock. With the game hanging in the balance, Harvard had seized it for its own with one big drive.

“It’s one game at a time, but we knew this was a must-win game,” said senior defensive tackle Nnamdi Obukwelu. “We said we’re not going to lose at home. We lost last week and wanted to start a winning streak this game.”

ADAPTING TO INJURIES

Hit hard by injuries this season, the Crimson offense was missing several of its key cogs as it took the field Saturday evening.

Senior tight end Cam Brate was sidelined due to a hurt knee, and sophomore receiver Andrew Fischer was kept off the field with a hamstring injury. Hempel adjusted by relying on junior Seitu Smith, who racked up a season-high seven catches, and also targeted Miller and junior tight end Tyler Hamblin.

The adjustment was not as smooth on the offensive line. With senior center David Leopard out with a broken ankle, Harvard was beset with penalties and committed seven false starts. But the Crimson line did a good job protecting Hempel and only surrendered a single sack.

Harvard was also forced to turn to Flesher at kicker, as a leg injury has kept senior David Mothander on the bench the past few weeks. Despite missing an attempt in the fourth quarter, Flesher converted three other field goals including the game-winner. The junior was named Ivy Special Teams Player of the Week following last Saturday’s loss to Princeton.

“We’re a little bit, on offense, like a team of misfit toys,” Murphy said. “This is an unbelievable group of kids. The thrill ride isn’t over. I think I aged about 10 years tonight, but this team will fight.”

—Staff writer David Steinbach can be reached at david.steinbach@thecrimson.com.