Rugged Cornell Offense to Test Crimson Eleven

ITHACA, N.Y., OR SOMEWHERE EN ROUTE--In what may be the biggest game of the Ivy League season, Harvard puts its 3-0 record on the line against Cornell here today, with the favorite role in the Ivy League title race at stake.

The game shapes up as a struggle between Harvard's NCAA leading defense and the powerful running game of the Big Red. Harvard has been yielding an average of 100 yards per game, with only 31 of those 100 coming on the ground. Cornell, with Don Fanelli and Dan Malone, has one of the most potent ground games in the East.

Fanelli, whom many in Ithaca are billing as the next Ed Marinaro, has ground out 299 yards in three games for a 4.4 average. Malone, the Big Red rushing leader a year ago, has become a part-time runner and full-time blocker for sophomore Fanelli this year, but still is capable of running roughshod if given daylight.

Cornell, like Harvard, is coming off a big win against a weak Ivy opponent. Last week the Big Red humbled Princeton, 37-6, in a game at Ithaca. Harvard was busy running up the biggest margin of victory in Ivy history, trouncing Columbia, 57-0.

Fanelli has already clicked for four touchdowns in three games, which should substantiate the press billings that predict a Marinaro-like career for the bruising tailback. Malone has also tallied twice in the young season.

Against this punishing ground attack will be the Harvard defense. Besides leading the nation in total team defense and rushing defense, Harvard is number one in points allowed, relinquishing a mere 2.3 points per contest.

The Crimson defensive line and linebackers have been outstanding. Mitch Berger, Joe Mackey and Mike O'Hare in the line and Sandy Tennant, Bob Kristoff and Eric Kurzweil in the linebacking corps have devastated opposition attacks. The Crimson defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 20 times in three games.

While the Crimson defense vs. the Cornell offense will be the main subject of interest today, the Harvard attack and the Cornell defense will be engaging in a heady struggle of their own. While neither of these units has amassed the renown o. acclaim that have gone to the Crimson D and the Cornell O, both have accomplished big things this year.

Crimson quarterback Jimmy Stoeckel has relentlessly driven Harvard opponents wild with his crisp passing and mastery of the roll-out and option attack. And Pat McInnally has excelled at end.

But Harvard has more than McInnally and Stoeckel to worry the Big Red. Running backs Alky Tsitsos, Ed Cronin, and Neal Miller have been effective if not flashy, and the line has pushed the opposition all over Harvard Stadium in the first three games.

The game will be telecast regionally over ABC network affiliates, and the added excitement of playing on television should be an emotional factor for Cornell and Harvard. With so much riding on the game, and the television audience of the Northeast looking on, there should be no trouble raising the adrenalin count for the players.

The game shapes up as a classic encounter. Harvard and Cornell are both undefeated in Ivy action and have looked awesome in early season action. And what is more, Harvard humiliated the Big Red last fall in Cambridge, coming away with a 33-15 triumph. It's unlikely that Cornell coach Jack Musick has let his squad forget that during preparation this week.