Harvard Capitalizes on Mistakes To Humble Undefeated Penn, 28-6

Harvard's devastating defense forced a series of crucial first quarter mistakes which carried the Crimson to a key 28-6 win over previously unbeaten Pennsylvania on Saturday.

The victory, before 25,000 fans at Soldiers Field, stretched Harvard's unbeaten record to six games and tied them with Yale for the Ivy League lead.

Striking quickly, Harvard turned two interceptions and a recovered fumble into 14 points before some of the spectators had located their seats. Four plays later, Crimson captain Vic Gatto returned a punt 70 yards for Harvard's third touchdown of the first quarter, and Penn's doom was sealed.

Quick Defense

Harvard's aggressive defense, which Penn coach Bob O'Dell termed "the quickest I've seen in my four years at Penn," dominated the game.

Safety Pat Conway single-handedly stymied Penn's early passing attack, picking off Bernie Zbrzeznj's first two passes.

Conway's first interception occurred deep in Quaker territory and set up Harvard's first score. After Penn's defense stopped Gatto at the Penn 25 yard line, Ray Hornblower swept right behind a vicious block by fullback Gus Crim and knifed his way to paydirt.

Conway's second interception came during the following series of downs after Penn had moved the ball into Crimson territory. Darting in front of Penn's star receiver Pete Blumenthal, Conway made a diving catch and rolled out of bounds with the ball.

Fumble

Harvard's rugged defensive line got into action during the next Penn sequence. A massive gang tackle, which almost deflated Quaker Gerry Santini, sent the ball squirming from the pintsized halfback's hands.

Ace defensive end John Cramer pounced on the ball at the Penn 22. After several short gains, Lalich scored on a keeper from two yards out.

On Penn's next punt, Gatto brought the crowd to its feet as he retrieved the kick on his own 30 yard line, danced past a barrage of Quaker tacklers, then streaked down the sideline to complete a dazzling touchdown return.

Harvard's offense managed only one sustained scoring drive all afternoon. Early in the second period, with fullback Crim grinding out most of the yardage, Harvard marched 73 yards to score its final touchdown. Lalich culminated the drive with a one-yard plunge, and Tom Wynne followed with his fourth consecutive PAT to boost the halftime score to 28-0.

In the second half, Harvard's attack chugged to a halt, but the defense kept crunching. Cramer, John Emery, and Gary Farneti led the charge statistically with eight tackles apiece, but an army of tacklers chased every Penn ballcarrier.

Penn's only score, the one time it moved inside the Harvard 26 yard line, came in the fourth quarter after Conway fumbled a punt reception, and Penn's Joe Armao recovered on the Harvard two yard line.

Determined to blank the Quakers, Harvard's defensive wall braced itself for a goal line stand. Two charges up the middle gained no yardage, but Kenn Dunn finally reached the Crimson end zone after taking a pitchout from Zbrzeznj and racing around right end into the unprotected flat.

Harvard's defense prevented the extra point when Cramer and Neil Hurley crashed through Penn's battered offensive line to block Eliot Berry's extra point effort.

Following the touchdown, Penn attempted an onside kick, but junior end John Kiernan grabbed the spinning football and raced to the Penn 28 yard line before he was pulled down from behind.PAT CONWAY