Harvard Runs Rampant, Destroys Columbia 34-6

For a brief time, the game had all the earmarks of an upset. Columbia had just intercepted a Milt Holt pass and driven through the papier-mache-like Harvard defense for 45 yards and a touchdown.

Moments before, after recovering a Holt fumble, the Lions had taken the ball all the way to the Crimson 12, only to be stopped by an interception. Columbia was moving consistently against the uninspired Harvard defense, the Crimson offense was committing blunder after blunder, and the crowd was in a frenzy.

It was at this point, losing 6-0 (Columbia had missed the extra point) with 8:41 to go in the first period, that Harvard decided to stop fooling around and get down to business.

Tom Winn ran the ensuing kickoff from the three yard line to the Harvard 46. Holt and company then took over, and marched 54 yards in 12 plays, Holt capping off the drive with a four yard pass to tight end Tom McDermott for the score.

The defense got tough and gave the Lions nothing, handing the ball back to the offense in good field position.

A drive to the Columbia 27 was killed by another interception, but Columbia got nowhere again, and the Harvard offense went right back to work. The Crimson moved 54 yards in seven plays, Holt going in from the four for the score.

The key play in the drive was a spectacular leading catch by (who else?) All-American candidate Pat McInally, good for 33 yards.

The touchdown gave Harvard an uncomfortable 14-6 lead at halftime, but at least there was the feeling that Harvard was taking command of the ballgame.

The second half was all Harvard.

Safety Fran Cronin, playing his third successive strong game, intercepted a Lion aerial at the Columbia 30.

Harvard wasted no time and scored in seven plays, Holt hitting halfback Winn on a two-yard toss. Holt fumbled the point-after attempt, and Harvard had a commanding 20-6 advantage.

Columbia began to fight back and took the ball from its 20 to the Harvard 45 before cornerback Bill Emper picked off another Columbia pass.

Second-string running backs Mark Taylor and Steve Dart came in and plowed through the porous Columbia front line for consistent gains. Harvard finally brought the ball in for a TD ten plays later, Taylor scoring from two yards out to climax the 63-yard march. The touchdown upped the margin to 27-6, and school was out for the beleaguered Lions.

Harvard added one more tally in the fourth period, as reserve quarter back Doug Gordon lofted a 33-yard scoring toss to Tom Hagerty to make the final score 34-6.

The victory was especially encouraging in light of the strong effort turned in by the whole defensive unit after the initial Lion thrusts in the early going. The defensive line enjoyed its best day of the season, limiting the Columbia ground attack to just 40 yards on 43 attempts.

The pass rush by the front line was also the best of the year, as the Columbia quarterback was sacked four times during the day, and was constantly under pressure whenever he went back to pass. End Hardy Widemann and tackle Rob Shaw were particularly ferocious in their pass rush.

Sophomore lineback Tom Joyce, getting his first crack as a starter, gave a strong performance. Cornerback Emper, another sophomore, was also starting his first game in place of regular Mike Page, who was taking his Dental Boards. Emper had an excellent game, intercepting two passes and playing aggressive ball throughout the contest. Emper just might have won his way into the regular starting berth off his performance.

The Crimson running attack finally jelled for the first time this season, churning out 254 yards. Winn had another good day, gaining 35 yards in eight carries, and Alky Tsitsos had one of his better days in a Harvard uniform, rushing for 64 yards in 16 carries. Second stringers Dart and Taylor amassed 58 and 54 yards respectively, including a 32-yard jaunt by Taylor.

Because of the success of the ground game, quarterback Holt resorted to the air only 15 times, less than any game this season, hitting on seven for 112 yards.

McInally hauled in four of those passes for 77 yards, to establish another Harvard record, this time for career yardage gained.

All in all, it was a solid team effort, and an even awesome display of football at times. But whether Harvard was that good or Columbia that bad wasn't at all clear. The battle with Cornell at the Stadium next Saturday should tell just how far the Crimson will go this year.