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Crimson Chews Up Big Red, Spits It Out, 20-12
Defense Shines In Sixth Straight Win
It started with all the sullen signs of a typical Harvard-Cornell matchup: gray skies, a slippery field, and a bobbled Crimson kickoff return which pinned the gridders deep in their own territory.
But it ended--after nearly 200 yds. in penalties, a sensational 93-yd. interception return by Crimson cornerback Rocky Delgadillo, and so many twists of fate that the game perversely lacked drama--with Harvard on top, 20-12.
The fourth chapter in the Crimson football team's 1980 story concluded, as did the first three, on an upbeat note. With first-string quarterback Brian Buckley sidelined with a knee injury, junior Mike Buchanan directed the Crimson offense cautiously but solidly, completing nine of 13 passes without surrendering an interception and collecting 61 yds. on the ground.
Coach Joe Restic boasts a potent offensive threat outside the realm of the Multiflex--his defense. Besides Delgadillo's wondrous play, Crimson linebackers Bob Woolway and Mark Layden each snagged interceptions to bring Harvard's season total to ten.
Tom Clark blocked a punt early in the second half which Joe Margolis pounced on, setting up a crucial Dave Cody field goal which boosted the Crimson's lead to 17-7.
Aside from creating its own offensive opportunities, the Crimson defense continued to repel impressively its opponents' offense. In four contests thus far this fall, Godless Harvard has defeated Holy Cross, God and country, God and New York, and God and Big Red coach Bob Blackman. The Crimson has its own secret--a defense that has permitted just 41 points.
A Zebra Deity
Blackman thought the Crimson should thank the God of referees for Saturday's win. While Cornell fell victim to some questionable calls--including a clearly unjustified forward lateral infraction in the second quarter--Harvard also felt the frustration of the flag, incurring 111 yds.
After the game, Restic paid tribute to the officials, and to Cornell's elusive quarterback Doug Fusco, who ran the option competently save for Delgadillo's pick-off early on. Blackman contended that Fusco is only the Big Red's fourth-string quarterback--a likely story, considering that Cornell coaches in the press box were incredulous when the winningest coach in Ivy history substituted Mike Ryan for Fusco late in the third quarter.
Ryan failed to engineer the Big Red offense effectively, thanks in large part to adjuster Matt Foley, who made a handful of key tackles on screen passes that might have turned into long gainers.
Cornell placekicker Ron Rejda, normally reliable, missed a pair of field goal attempts in the final quarter that would have had the Harvard side of the stadium reaching for Gelusil if successful. A Jeff Lawrence center snap which arched over Crimson punter Steve Flach's head bounded out of the end zone for a safety, midway through the fourth quarter, closed the Big Red to within a touchdown and a two-point conversion. But the defense preserved the victory, freezing Cornell on its last two series and chalking up the Crimson's sixth straight win dating back to last season.
Following Delgadillo's scamper in the game's fifth minute, the game settled down into a predictable pattern, with penalty flags liberally littering the field. After Crimson halfback Tom Beatrice fumbled at midfield, Fusco put together a late first-quarter drive climaxing in a one-yd. touchdown plunge by Cornell Fullback Ben Tenuta.
Buchanan directed a 71-yd. drive in the middle of the second quarter, helped by 30 yds. in Big Red penalties. A pass snared by tight end Chuck Marshall after Cornell linebacker Mike Staun deflected it resulted in a 14-yd. gain and gave the Crimson first and goal at the four.
Three cracks at the Cornell line proved fruitless, and Buchanan called timeout to consult with Restic. What followed was a gutsy play, with Buchanan sprinting wide on a fourth down bootleg and reaching the end zone untouched by a mesmerized Big Red defense. The half ended with the Crimson in front, 14-7.
The two sides traded field goals in the third quarter, Cody splitting the uprights from 37 yds. out after the blocked punt and a subsequent ineligible receiver downfield penalty, and Rejda hit from 42 yds. after Mike Jacobs snapped the ball over Flach's head, because his hands were covered with glutinous stickum for his defensive duties.
Buchanan led the Crimson 66 yds. in latter part of the third period and the beginning of the fourth. A drive ending with a 34-yd. Cody field goal. Marshall grabbed one pass for 22 yds., and the Harvard quarterback gained 17 yds. on two successive sprintouts. A touchdown pass from Buchanan to Mike Granger from the shotgun formation was nullified on an illegal motion penalty.
But Cody's final field goal sealed the Big Red's fate, and the Crimson came up with its first win over Cornell since 1977. The visitors figured to have at least an outside shot at the Ivy title going into the season, but the gridders have just about shut the door--sweet revenge indeed for last year's 41-14 Cornell romp in Ithaca.
More impressive is the fact that the Crimson has not yet trailed at any point in four games this year, further evidence that although the weather may have been typically miserable for this weekend's game, Cornell was forced to do battle with a special Harvard side.
THE NOTEBOOK: Ron Cuccia gathered in an exceptional 45-yd. pass from Buchanan, making a picturesque diving catch...Defensive end Dave Otto applied pressure on Cornell's quarterbacks all day long. Together with Chuck Durst, Otto makes the left side of the line a wall...Restic used tight end Marshall on a bunch of patterns, perhaps foreshadowing a change in his primarily blocking role...Buchanan had 199 yds. in total offense...Little-used Steve Vago responded to his starting opportunity by collecting 90 yds. on the ground for Cornell. H--Delgadillo 93 Interception return (Cody kick) C--Tenuta 1 run (Rejda kick) H--Buchanan 1 run (Cody kick) H--Cody 37 FG C--Rejda 42 FG H--Cody 34 FG C--Safety, ball snapped out of end zone Attendance--10,000
H--Delgadillo 93 Interception return (Cody kick)
C--Tenuta 1 run (Rejda kick)
H--Buchanan 1 run (Cody kick)
H--Cody 37 FG
C--Rejda 42 FG
H--Cody 34 FG
C--Safety, ball snapped out of end zone
Attendance--10,000
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