Freshman Gridders Bomb Tufts, 27-13

The freshman football team jumped all over Tufts in the first half yesterday and cruised to a 27-13 victory. The Crimson squad was especially satisfied since they have only been practicing in pads since last Friday, while Tufts has been in camp for weeks.

Tufts may have been stronger at the end, but it didn't matter since Harvard put the game away in the first half. Midway through the first quarter, halfback Ron Jellison slipped around right end and sprinted 59 yards downfield to the Jumbo ten yard line.

Two plays later, Jellison bolted into the end zone to give Harvard a 6-0 lead. The extra point attempt was blocked. Moments later, the Yardlings drove for another score, quarterback Burke St. John cutting back and dodging his way for the last 20 yards. His pass for two points failed.

Tufts tried to make its move in the next frame, but was thwarted by a Crimson defense which bent but made the big plays when it had to. The Jumbos drove to a first and goal at the Harvard eight before the defense rose up and stopped them cold. Tufts had to settle for a field goal.

Later in the quarter, the Jumbos were again on the move, but the Crimson defense again held its ground inside the ten, relinquishing only three points.

Brian Buckley, a highly-recruited High School All-America quarterback is on the team, but so far the unheralded St. John has kept him on the bench. As halftime neared, St. John showed how he's done it, hitting four straight aerials for 63 yards and another score. The conversion was again muffed.

With less than two minutes left before intermission, Tufts was forced to punt out of its end zone. Hard-charging defensive end Chris Field blocked the kick, and linemate Carl Hargrove fell on it for yet another touchdown. Harvard led at the half, 24-6.

The defense held up in the second half, allowing only a single score and recovering a fumble at the Tufts ten to set up a field goal by Ron Stewart. "I am very proud of the way we executed despite the fact that we've been practicing for only a few days," Harvard coach Loyal Park said yesterday. "I just can't say too much how pleased I am."

Jellison was the driving force in the Crimson attack, charging through and around the Tufts defense for 145 yards on 22 carries. St. John hit six of 16 passes for 78 yards and took the ball downfield three times for 41 yards.