IVY CHAMPS!

The big showdown for first place in the Ivy League ended up being a showcase of the Harvard football team's dominance.

In its final home game of the season yesterday, Harvard (8-1, 6-0 Ivy) erased any doubt as to who was the Ivy's best football team with a 33-0 shutout of Penn (5-4, 4-2).

With the win Harvard clinched at least a share of its first Ivy title since 1987 and earned a chance at its first unblemished league mark since the Ivy League began round robin play in 1956.

"I'm euphoric," said senior defensive end Chris Smith. "There's nothing better. This is everything we've wanted and everything we've worked for."

Smith--who set a Harvard career sack record (18.5) in the first quarter--and the rest of the Harvard defense was stifling all day. In recording its second blanking of the season--the first was a 24-0 win over Dartmouth two weekends ago--the Crimson held the Quakers to just 144 total yards, and only 25 on the ground.

While the defense was pitching a shutout, sophomore quarterback Rich Linden (18-of-27, 218 yards, two touchdowns) was leading the offense to big play after big play.

"I don't think anybody thought the score was going to be 33-0," said Penn Coach Al Bagnoli. "It was as thorough a domination as I've been involved in."

It was clear early on that Harvard was the dominant team on both sides of the ball. Penn opened the game by first fumbling on the kickoff return, then going three plays and out. It was a sign of things to come, as the Quakers were forced to punt six times before finally recording a first down midway through the second quarter.

Harvard on the other hand mounted a scoring drive the first time it touched the ball. As it has done all season, the Crimson relied heavily on its ability to convert on third and fourth downs.

Facing a third-and-eight from its own 29-yard line early in the drive, Linden passed complete to senior flanker Jared Chupaila over the middle. Chupaila corralled the ball while sprinting left at Penn's 45-yard line and then darted up the middle for what turned out to be a 40-yard pass play.

It is the same third-and-long play that Harvard runs every week, but Penn defense seemed unprepared, as Chupaila was able to free himself with just one fake.

"Their defensive backs were a little soft, but I think that's a credit to our receivers," Linden said. "We had a great scheme this week. We knew a lot of times we could play a little cover-one, and if we got some man coverage we could hit those quick outs."

The completion set up the Crimson at the Quakers 31-yard line. Three plays later Harvard found itself in a fourth-and-two situation at the Penn 23 and once again was able to convert, this time with a nine-yard completion to senior split end Colby Skelton, who made a diving catch at the 14.

After an offsides penalty put the Crimson nine yards from the end zone, Menick received the handoff, ran right, bounced off two tacklers and rumbled into the end zone for the first score of the game.

The touchdown was Menick's 13th of the season, tying him for the school single-season mark set by Mike Giardi '94.

Harvard's players did not know at the time that it was all the scoring they would need. The Crimson got back on the board in the second quarter with the first of two gutsy goalline calls by Coach Tim Murphy.

The play was set up by a 38-yard bomb to Chupaila on the first play of the drive at 5:42 of the second. Linden took the snap at Penn's 43, faked a handoff to Menick running left, faked a reverse to sophomore Terence Patterson running right,and tossed to Chupaila streaking along the left hashmark. Chupaila leapt near the eight-yard line and made an over-the-shoulder grab, all while being held by Penn free safety Mike Ferguson.

Three plays later, Harvard found itself facing a fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line. Murphy decided to go for it, and it paid off.

"We said before the season started that we were going to be aggressive," Murphy said. "We had a quarterback who had some seasoning, we had a veteran receiving group and we have a good offensive line."

The Crimson set up in its standard goalline run formation, with sophomore linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski and sophomore fullback Damon Jones lined up to block for Menick. But instead, Linden took one step back and lobbed the ball over the pile to junior tight end Chris Eitzmann in the back of the end zone. Sophomore Mike Giampaolo's extra point made the score 14-0 Harvard.

The same play worked again at the start of the fourth. With Harvard leading 27-0 and facing fourth-and-goal from the one, Linden dropped back and threw and easy touchdown pass to senior tight end Tom Giardi.

"We committed all 11 men to the run and as soon as he threw the ball, there was no one there in pass coverage," Bagnoli said.

By then, however, Harvard had already put the game away. The Crimson started the second half with a 20-0 lead but it was obvious that it had no intention of stopping there.

Harvard mounted a 10-play, 60-yard scoring drive to open the second half. Menick had several strong rushes during the drive, having his way with the Penn defensive line to the tune of four rushes for a total of 22 yards. Linden ended the drive by running wide right on an option into the end zone.

Menick finished the game with 77 rushing yards, bringing his season total to 1,100, just two short of all-time single-season mark established by Eion Hu '97 in 1995. Menick actually tied the record during the course of the game, but was knocked back for a two yard loss on his final run, in the fourth quarter.

Harvard's offense featured a healthy mix of air and ground attacks, as 144 of its 362 total yards came on the ground. Harvard's offensive line came up big, preventing All-Ivy defensive tackle Mitch Marrow from getting to Linden after the first quarter.

"We did a great job with of game-planning today," said senior offensive tackle Matt Birk. "When Marrow was lined up either over myself or the left guard Mike Shreve, we'd make our reads and if they didn't blitz, we were able to double-team him a lot."

But the story all day was the defense. Harvard's secondary picked off three passes yesterday, the first of which led to the Crimson's third score of the afternoon.

With the Crimson up 14-0 late in the second quarter, the Quakers were driving deep into Harvard territory. Facing a fourth-and-five from the Harvard 27, quarterback Matt Rader threw a swing pass to the right to tailback Jim Finn, who caught the pass but was hit immediately by strong safety Aron Natale.

The ball popped out of Finn's hands and into the welcoming arms of junior defensive back Glenn Jackson, who sprinted 67 yards into the end zone.

"That play was a big momentum swing," Smith said. They were really coming back. They would have had a first down, and maybe even more.

But it was not Penn's day to shine. The Gatorade bath the Harvard players gave Murphy with the game well in hand late in the fourth quarter indicated which was the better team yesterday.

"Nothing will ever be this special," said Murphy, who entered this season with a 10-20 record as Harvard Coach. "It's always more enjoyable when you go through a struggle. Anything that comes easy isn't as satisfying."

The victory marks the Crimson's first 8-1 start since 1973, and its first 6-0 Ivy start since the 1968 season. But with Dartmouth's 14-7 victory over Brown yesterday, Harvard will have to wait one more week to claim the Ivy title outright.

A win over arch-rival Yale next week, and Harvard will record seven Ivy League wins for the first time in school history.

"These guys know it's unfinished work," Murphy said. "These kids have a chance to put a stamp on history."

HARVARD, 33-0 at Harvard StadiumPenn  0  0  0  0  --  0Harvard  7  13  7  6  --  3

Three plays later, Harvard found itself facing a fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line. Murphy decided to go for it, and it paid off.

"We said before the season started that we were going to be aggressive," Murphy said. "We had a quarterback who had some seasoning, we had a veteran receiving group and we have a good offensive line."

The Crimson set up in its standard goalline run formation, with sophomore linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski and sophomore fullback Damon Jones lined up to block for Menick. But instead, Linden took one step back and lobbed the ball over the pile to junior tight end Chris Eitzmann in the back of the end zone. Sophomore Mike Giampaolo's extra point made the score 14-0 Harvard.

The same play worked again at the start of the fourth. With Harvard leading 27-0 and facing fourth-and-goal from the one, Linden dropped back and threw and easy touchdown pass to senior tight end Tom Giardi.

"We committed all 11 men to the run and as soon as he threw the ball, there was no one there in pass coverage," Bagnoli said.

By then, however, Harvard had already put the game away. The Crimson started the second half with a 20-0 lead but it was obvious that it had no intention of stopping there.

Harvard mounted a 10-play, 60-yard scoring drive to open the second half. Menick had several strong rushes during the drive, having his way with the Penn defensive line to the tune of four rushes for a total of 22 yards. Linden ended the drive by running wide right on an option into the end zone.

Menick finished the game with 77 rushing yards, bringing his season total to 1,100, just two short of all-time single-season mark established by Eion Hu '97 in 1995. Menick actually tied the record during the course of the game, but was knocked back for a two yard loss on his final run, in the fourth quarter.

Harvard's offense featured a healthy mix of air and ground attacks, as 144 of its 362 total yards came on the ground. Harvard's offensive line came up big, preventing All-Ivy defensive tackle Mitch Marrow from getting to Linden after the first quarter.

"We did a great job with of game-planning today," said senior offensive tackle Matt Birk. "When Marrow was lined up either over myself or the left guard Mike Shreve, we'd make our reads and if they didn't blitz, we were able to double-team him a lot."

But the story all day was the defense. Harvard's secondary picked off three passes yesterday, the first of which led to the Crimson's third score of the afternoon.

With the Crimson up 14-0 late in the second quarter, the Quakers were driving deep into Harvard territory. Facing a fourth-and-five from the Harvard 27, quarterback Matt Rader threw a swing pass to the right to tailback Jim Finn, who caught the pass but was hit immediately by strong safety Aron Natale.

The ball popped out of Finn's hands and into the welcoming arms of junior defensive back Glenn Jackson, who sprinted 67 yards into the end zone.

"That play was a big momentum swing," Smith said. They were really coming back. They would have had a first down, and maybe even more.

But it was not Penn's day to shine. The Gatorade bath the Harvard players gave Murphy with the game well in hand late in the fourth quarter indicated which was the better team yesterday.

"Nothing will ever be this special," said Murphy, who entered this season with a 10-20 record as Harvard Coach. "It's always more enjoyable when you go through a struggle. Anything that comes easy isn't as satisfying."

The victory marks the Crimson's first 8-1 start since 1973, and its first 6-0 Ivy start since the 1968 season. But with Dartmouth's 14-7 victory over Brown yesterday, Harvard will have to wait one more week to claim the Ivy title outright.

A win over arch-rival Yale next week, and Harvard will record seven Ivy League wins for the first time in school history.

"These guys know it's unfinished work," Murphy said. "These kids have a chance to put a stamp on history."

HARVARD, 33-0 at Harvard StadiumPenn  0  0  0  0  --  0Harvard  7  13  7  6  --  3