Crimson Chronicles

Game 4 v. Cornell (10/11/08):

In their fourth game, the Crimson hosted the undefeated Big Red, who came to Cambridge looking to put some distance between themselves and another Ivy League contender. By the time the game ended, the best that could be said was that it would be a long ride back to Ithaca, as the Crimson came away with a decisive 38-17 victory.

On the third play from scrimmage, Pizzotti hit Adam Chrissis with a 67-yard touchdown pass. Midway through the first, Harvard took over on offense at the Cornell 42 for the third time. On third and four from the 36, Pizzotti found Levi Richards for seven to move the chains, then connected with Adam Luft for 25 more. Two plays later, Ho took in from the four and the Crimson were up by two scores, with about ten minutes having been run off the clock. On Cornell’s ensuing possession, they were able to cross midfield but Matt Hanson picked off Nathan Ford’s pass deep in Crimson territory.

Moving into the second quarter, Cornell regained possession at midfield and Ford was successfully able to move the ball on a series of runs by Stephen Liuzza and pass plays. Randy Barbour carried in from the 2 and it was a 14-7 game. Midway through the second, the Crimson took over at midfield courtesy of a lousy punt. Gino Gordon carried five straight times, moving the ball to Cornell’s 32. From there, Pizzotti found Schwarzkopf for 11 and Levi Richards for 21, and the Crimson’s two-touchdown lead was back. After a series of exchanges that included a Harvard missed field goal attempt, Cornell took over as time in the half was winding down. Ford attempted a pass at his 24 that was intercepted by Glenn Dorris at the 37. A personal foul penalty against Big Red brought the ball to the 22. Chrissis carried it in from there on the first play of the drive and Harvard was up 28-7. Cornell got the ball in the waning seconds of the half and moved it from their 32 to Harvard’s 31 before time ran out in the half.

Cornell received the opening kickoff of the second half at the 29 and attacked Harvard’s defense right away. Luke Siwula had a couple of nice runs, taking the ball into Harvard territory. Ford was able to move the ball all the way to Harvard’s 7 before the drive stalled and Cornell had to settle for a 25-yard field goal from Brad Greenway to make it a 28-10 score. But the Crimson came right back, starting at their 23 and moving the ball to the 45 before Pizzotti connected on a 40-yard pass play that brought the ball to Cornell’s 15. From there, the drive went backwards and stalled, so they had to settle for a 35-yard field goal from Patrick Long.

As the game moved into the fourth quarter, Ford desperately tried to pass Cornell back into the game and was able to move the ball to Harvard’s 23, before a series of incompletions forced a turnover on downs. Two plays later, Pizzotti hooked up with Luft on a 66-yard bomb that brought the ball to the 6. Three plays later, Pizzotto found Jason Miller in the end zone and the competitive phase of the game came to a close at 38-10. There were eleven minutes remaining and when Cornell regained possession they were able to mount a successful scoring drive starting at their 29 and capped by Ford’s 11-yard touchdown pass to Zac Canty. After an exchange of possessions, Ford tried once more to mount a scoring drive and was able to move the ball all the way to Harvard’s 5 before an incomplete pass on fourth down ended the threat with 46 seconds remaining. Harvard took one kneel down and walked away with a thoroughly convincing 38-17 win.