The Scouting Report

HARVARD

Quarterback: If Tom Yohe is feeling senior blues, he didn't show it last week. Yohe completed 11 of 20 passes for 184 yards and two touchdown passes against Columbia. With 86 yards passing this weekend, Yohe would have 3000 career passing yards. With Air Yohe, the Crimson is a frequent flyer.

Running Backs: Senior Tony Hinz is Harvard's second weapon. If Air Yohe gets grounded, the Hinz Express will be ready to roll. Last week, Hinz gained 96 yards on just 13 carries and scored a pair of TDs. Fullback Alex Konovalchik got caught in the Lions' lair (17 yards on six rushes), but he is a short-yardage bull.

Receivers: Tight end Don Gajewski turned in a surprisingly good effort last week, making three difficult grabs for 56 yards and a touchdown. Neil Phillips makes the easy look difficult (he dropped a pair of passes against Columbia), but also the hard look easy. If he's not supposed to catch it, he will. Phillips (three catches for 51 yards) is the Crimson's deep threat.

Offensive Line: Last week, Columbia Coach Larry McElreavy could not pronounce Harvard tackle Maurice Frilot's name, blurting out something like "frivolous." But McElreavy praised Frilot's work in the trenches. Frilot's line mates are Shawn Sensky, Tony Consigli and John Bartholemew. This bunch gave Yohe good protection against the Lions.

Defensive Line: Ends Don Peterson (six tackles) and Peter Allen (five) played well last weekend. Peterson's three sacks against the Lions were one less than his season total last year. The Harvard captain seems ready to lead by example. Peterson and Allen also picked up a pair of assists last week.

Linebackers: Supposedly a Harvard weakness coming into the season. Greg Ubert and Brian Burns overpowered the Lions' tender line, bursting into the backfield often. Burns finished with seven tackles. Ubert recorded six. UMass should give these two a sterner test than the Lions did.

Secondary: Last year it was a weak spot. This year it is a question mark. Look for Palazzi to give Harvard safety Jim Smith (an interception against Columbia) and company a test. Henry Olson, who also had an interception against Columbia, mans the left cornerback spot. Sophomore Chris Rezendes takes care of the right side.

U MASS

Quarterback: Senior Dave Palazzi will try to match Yohe pass for pass. And if his performances in UMass's 45-42 victory over Maine on opening day and the Minutemen's 44-17 loss to Ball State last week is any indication, he will do it. In the two games, Palazzi was 29 of 56 for 431 yards and threw four touchdowns. Last year, he threw for 10 touchdowns. Look for Palazzi to test the young Crimson secondary early.

Running Backs Tailback Kevin Smellie has ground out 115 yards in two games, an average of 3.5 yards per carry. He gets help from hefty fullback David Mitchell (6-ft., 210-lbs), who has 111 yards in 24 rushes. Palazzi, too, is a threat to take off when his receivers are covered. Like Yohe, Palazzi is mobile. He has 71 yards on 21 rushes and has scored once.

Receivers: Split end Chip Mitchell leads the Minutemen's pass-catching corps. In two games, he has 10 catches for 162 and two touchdowns. Flanker Mike Tobin is Palazzi's other main target. He has eight catches for 120 yards. Mitchell, the big fullback, is also a pass catching threat. He has five catches for 27 yards.

Offensive Line: State schools have a reputation for fielding some big players. UMass has its share of big men, including tackle Nick Salmon (6-ft., 2-in., 260-lbs.), and guards Paul Mayberry (6-ft., 2-in., 265-lbs.) and Bill Buttler (6-ft., 250-lbs.), who was named honorable mention All-America last year.

Defensive Line: All members of the Minutemen's front three are back from last year. Then how do you explain the fact that the UMass defense has allowed nearly 600 yards a game? All-Yankee conference nose tackle Joe Cullen is the leader of the line. He is flanked by Dan Charron and Steve Brothers.

Linebackers: UMass has a couple of hard-hitters on its squad. Senior George Karelas is a ferocious field leader. He leads the club with 26 tackles. John McKeown is the Minutemen's second leading tackler with 24. Last year, he was a second-team All-Yankee Conference pick.

Secondary: The UMass secondary is young. Sophomores Jerome Bledsoe, a cornerback, and Vaughn Williams, the strong safety, are babes in the woods. Look for the big bad wolf--Tom Yohe--to come along and devour them. Garrick Amos, a starter in 1987, provides the only experience in the defensive backfield.