NOTEBOOK: Harvard Blitz Harries McSharry

Holy Cross, already down to its backup quarterback after an early-season injury to the Crusader’s starter, did little to protect the health of junior backup Brian McSharry. The Crimson garnered six sacks, costing Holy Cross a total of 43 yards. But even when Harvard defenders weren’t dragging down McSharry, they were harrying him enough to disrupt Holy Cross’ passing game.

“They have a good timing passing system,” Murphy said. “We obviously did a pretty good job of getting heat on them today.”

Much of that heat came from a youthful linebacking corps that was often called in as extra rushers. Sophomore Eric Schultz was particularly successful, garnering his second career sack and hurrying McSharry multiple times.

“We know they’re good football players,” Murphy said about his new linebackers, “they’re just a little on the smallish side as opposed to some of the kids we’ve had play there. But they’re excellent athletes, very tough kids, and under the circumstances, they did a great job today.”

But it does help when the defensive line is getting plenty of pressure on its own. Senior defensive end Mike Berg had a sack and numerous pressures, while sophomore defensive tackle Matt Curtis added a pair of sacks and plenty of hurries. Berg had another sack on a fourth-and-goal play in the fourth quarter negated by a penalty, but on the third Holy Cross fourth-and-goal effort his pressure of McSharry forced a bad pass that was intercepted by captain Ryan Tully.

“Our inside guys are so fast,” Murphy said. “They’re not tall, but Matt Curtis and Mike Berg, they run like linebackers.”

TURF TALK

The game marked the first on Harvard’s new FieldTurf surface, installed over the summer. It opened to rave reviews from both Murphy and senior running back Clifton Dawson.

“It felt great,” Dawson said. “You feel faster, you feel confident in your footing. Those are things that are important as a running back. You know that, ‘Hey, when I make a cut, I’m not going to slip or anything like that.’”

“It’s spectacular,” Murphy said. “Probably the best thing about it is, aesthetically, it picks up the whole place. Our stadium always looks great this time of year. But in three weeks, it’s either brown or muddy. The place will look great all year round, you can use it all year round...it’s a grand slam. It’s going to be great for the Harvard community.”

The team practiced on the field on Thursday, when rain passed through the area, but the field remained in excellent condition for Saturday’s game.

O HOLY (CROSS) NIGHT

Harvard’s stadium renovation is not yet complete, with lights scheduled to go up for the first time on the venerable horseshoe in October and an all-weather bubble for off-season practices to be completed in December. While the stated purpose of the lights, FieldTurf, and stadium bubble is to create year-round use of the field, the additions also create the enticing prospect of night games at Harvard Stadium.

“That’s our goal—to have a nice, early-season, September night game every year,” Murphy said.

“Either the Brown game or the Holy Cross game, where you get the whole student body down here, get them excited, and hopefully get it on TV,” he added.

Murphy also mentioned that the plan has been discussed with Director of Athletics Bob Scalise, who was enthusiastic about the idea. The Crimson’s home opener next season is Sept. 22 against Brown.

BITS AND PIECES

Holy Cross was held to just 40 rushing yards on 26 carries...Murphy is now 10-2 in his Harvard tenure against Holy Cross, while Holy Cross coach Tom Gilmore fell to 0-3 against the Crimson...Dawson has fumbled only six times in his 30 career games. The fumble on a botched handoff that ended Harvard’s second drive was charged to Pizzotti...The Crimson has now won 10 of its last 11 non-conference games, with the only loss coming last season to Lehigh, 49-24...Harvard’s offensive line, which features three new starters, did not allow a sack in the game.

—Staff writer Brad Hinshelwood can be reached at bhinshel@fas.harvard.edu.