Crimson Chronicles

Game 9 v. Penn Quakers

The 7-1 Crimson played their final home game against Penn, a team that has repeatedly frustrated Harvard’s Ivy title hopes over the years. This year, the Crimson had a chance to win the Ivy Title outright with a win over Penn. The Quakers won the toss and elected to defer to the second half. Collier Winters brought out Harvard’s offense at the 15 and was able to move the ball out to the 37 before Dombrowski punted away. Penn went three n’ out on their opening drive. Late in the quarter, the Quakers got the ball back at the 31, where Billy Ragone connected with Ryan Calvert for 11 on third down. From Harvard’s 43, Ragone hit Joe Holder for 22 and then found Calvert in the end zone to give the Quakers a 7-0 lead.

Moving into the second quarter, the Crimson went three n’ out. On Penn’s next possession, Josue Ortiz tackled Jeff Jack at the 24 and forced and recovered a fumble. One play later, Winters connected with Cameron Brate in the end zone and Harvard tied the score 7-7. After an exchange of punts, the Crimson got the ball back late in the quarter. Starting at the 30, Winters completed passes to Chris Lorditch and Kyle Juszczyk to move the ball out to midfield. From there, Winters found Lorditch on the left sideline for a 37-yard gain down to the 19. Two plays later, Zach Boden rushed in from the 14 and the Crimson tool a 14-7 lead. On Penn’s next drive, they elected to go for it on fourth-and-4 from their 38 but Ed Kispert fumbled the ball and Penn lost 20 yards on the play. With six seconds left on the clock, David Mothander kicked a 35-yard field goal to give Harvard a 17-7 lead at the half.

Penn went three n’ out on their opening drive of the second half. Harvard started out at the 26 and Boden rushed for 13 on the first play. Winters then completed passes to Adam Chrissis and Lorditch to move the ball to midfield. Boden then rushed for 12 more down to the 37. On third and 5, Winters rushed up the middle for 17. Two plays later, Winters rushed in from the 4 and the Crimson were comfortably ahead, 24-7. After an exchange of punts, Harvard got the ball back at midfield late in the quarter. On third and 1, Treavor Scales rushed off right tackle for 35 yards.

Moving into the fourth quarter, Scales rushed two more times and broke into the end zone from the 2. Mothander’s kick was no good and the Crimson took a 30-7 lead. On Penn’s next drive, Ragone’s pass was intercepted by Alexander Norman and Norman took it back from the 34 and into the end zone. Mothander’s kick was good and Harvard was up 37-7. This year, the ghosts that haunted Harvard in years past were nowhere to be found. After an exchange of punts, Scott Miller fumbled a punt at the 12 and it was recovered by Penn’s Anthony Marino, who returned the ball to the 7. On fourth and goal, Ragone rushed in from the 1 and it was 37-14. On Harvard’s next drive, Winters led the offense down to Penn’s 41 where Rich Zajeski fumbled the ball and it was recovered by Penn’s Erik Rask. Ragone then hit Ryan Mitchell for 31 to the 26. Ragone then rushed twice to the 13 and from there, connected with Calvert in the end zone for the touchdown. The two-point conversion attempt failed and it was 37-20. On Harvard’s next possession, they were content to stick to the ground and kill the clock. Penn got the ball back with less than a minute remaining and Ragone attempted three long heaves that fell incomplete and the Crimson came away with a big 37-20 win. In the process, they clinched the Ivy League title.

Congratulations to the 2012 Ivy League Champions!