J.V. Gridders Sneak By Yale, End Season With 3-1 Record

A Joe Lahti aerial assault and several miscues by the Yale defense enabled the Harvard J.V. football team to come from behind for a 21-20 victory yesterday.

Yale looked to romp in the early going as they rolled to a 14-0 first quarter lead. The Bullpups used a punishing ground game to move the ball down the field for a touchdown on their first possession.

Minutes later Eli quarterback Joe Dufek led his charges to another quick tally, going the last 5 yards on his own.

At the beginning of the second quarter, the Harvard offense began to move the ball for the fist time when a series of penalties pushed them back to their own 20 where the Crimson faced a first and 35.

On first-down Lahti spotted Steve Bianucci open in the left flat and hit him for ten of the 35 yards. Then the junior signal-caller caught the Bulldog defense napping by going right back to Bianucci on the right side for a pass play that went for 70 yards and a touchdown. Joe Abate converted the point after to make it 14-7 at the half.

In the third stanza, the two teams traded punts and interceptions, but at the start of the final period the Eli offense started to click again.

Getting the ball at mid-field after Eli linebacker Doug Carrns picked off a stray pass, Yale drove 50 yards in 5 plays to take a 20-7 lead. Harvard successfully blocked the extra point attempt but was called offsides. When the ball was moved half the distance to the endzone on the penalty, Yale decided to go for two but had their pass batted down.

With the clock now working against them, the Crimson offense needed some help, and they got it from the Yale defense. A pass interference call against a Yale cornerback gave Harvard a first down on the Yale 25. From there Lahti connected with Dan Bowles to the Eli 5. Another pass interference penalty gave the Crimson a first and goal at the one, and Bianucci thanked the Bulldogs for their kindness by crashing over for the touchdown. Abate hit the PAT to make it a 20-14 game.

Four plays later Harvard got the ball back on a Yale punt, and the Yale defense again proved generous. Yet another pass interference call gave the Crimson a first down on the Yale 40, and Lahti again took advantage by lofting a bomb to Dirk Killen in the endzone. Another Abate PAT gave Harvard the margin of victory.

Yesterday's third-straight win brings the J.V.'s record for the season to 3-1.