Crimson Hopes to Avoid Repeat of Shocker

For the past week, each time members of the Harvard football team (4-2, 3-0 Ivy) set foot in the locker room, a glaring set of scores stared back at them:

APPALACHIAN STATE 34, MICHIGAN 32

KENTUCKY 43, LSU 37

STANFORD 24, USC 23

DARTMOUTH 30, HARVARD 16

In a year riddled with upsets in college football, Harvard does not want to be the next added to the list.

The final score posted in the locker room comes not from this year but from 2003, when Harvard faced off against Dartmouth (2-4, 2-1 Ivy) in a similar situation—leading the Ivy League, approaching important games and facing an underdog opponent.

That year Harvard paid heavily for its lack of foresight, losing to the Big Green 30-16.

“They’re a solid football team, a dangerous team,” coach Tim Murphy said. “I told our kids that in 2003, we entered this game 6-0, and I don’t think [Dartmouth] had a winning record, and they clobbered us. We’re prepared for a quality Dartmouth team.”

Tomorrow’s matchup could have an equally significant impact in 2007. If Harvard successfully holds home turf, it retains first place in the league. A Big Green win drops the Crimson down to a tie for second—with Dartmouth.

The Big Green travels to Harvard Stadium on Saturday coming off of last week’s 37-28 triumph over Columbia, a game in which quarterback Alex Jenny amassed 189 yards and a touchdown. However, the Crimson may not see Jenny under center, as teammate Tom Bennewitz may fill his shoes.

“We like to flip them up,” Dartmouth coach Buddy Teevens said. “Both have demonstrated ability. We’re going to play the best quarterback.”

Another (slightly) new face will return to the Dartmouth offense. Starting running back Milan Williams is back to bolster the run after missing last week’s win due to injury.

The Crimson defense must be ready to stop Williams and the running game in general if it hopes to walk off victorious. Even in Williams’s absence, the Big Green ran for a big 271 yards against Columbia.

“[Williams] will be in the mix,” Teevens said. “But there were lots of guys touching the ball last week and we plan to keep that up. It’s a difficult challenge facing the stingiest defense against the run. We plan keep them off balance to make the run game more productive.”

That won’t be easy, as Harvard holds its opponents to a measly 85 rushing yards-per-game and has permitted opponents to convert just 19.2 percent of the time on third down.

Dartmouth’s defense, on the other hand, has its issues. Despite linebacker Justin Cottrell and safety John Pircon, who combine for 18 tackles per game, the Big Green is last in the Ivies in scoring defense and seventh in total defense.

But the numbers fail to convince senior quarterback Chris Pizzotti.

“When you play a team like Dartmouth, those types of statistics don’t mean anything,” Pizzotti said. “In 2004 they had similar rankings and we only won by a point [a 13-12 win in Hanover]. As much as I’d like to say we can just take over, with a team like Dartmouth I can’t.”

The Crimson will look to exploit a Big Green secondary that is surrendering 245.5 yards-per-game through the air with senior wideout Corey Mazza and sophomore Matt Luft. Mazza, fourth in the league in receiving yards, contributes an average of nearly 91 yards-per-game, complemented by Luft’s 65.

The Big Green’s defensive woes could mean another big week for Pizzotti. In last week’s centennial battle against Princeton, Pizzotti racked up video game-like numbers, throwing for 365 yards and two touchdowns while leading the Crimson to a commanding 27-10 victory over the Tigers.

A win tomorrow would continue a decade of Harvard dominance in the series. The Crimson has been victorious in nine out of the past ten meetings between the two teams. But it’s the one blemish that Murphy cares about.

“If you turn the ball over, I don’t care who you play in our league, you’re probably going to lose,” Murphy said. “If you don’t come to play, you’re going to get killed.”

The game holds special meaning for Murphy, who has been friends with Teevens longer than any of their players have been alive.

“He was the best man at my wedding,” said Murphy. “We were friends in junior high, classmates and teammates in high school. I’m the godfather of his children. It’s kind of weird going against someone who’s like your brother, but it’s kind of neat at the same time.”

Long standing friendship aside, Murphy’s focus remains on the game—and avoiding the upset.

“We just have to play with the same focus and intensity that we have, and do the things we’ve been doing,” said Murphy. “If we do, we should have a solid chance.”