Freshman Gridders Cruise, 35-0

Some things speak for themselves, but the Harvard freshman football team's win over Princeton was more interesting than the 35-0 score would suggest.

The Saturday morning victory in front of 400 parents and fans raised the Crimson's record to 2-0-1.

"We needed a complete game," Harvard coach Jim Kubacki said.

And that's just what the Crimson got. Everyone on the team saw action, the defense recorded its first shutout of the season, the placekickers were perfect, and the offensive line even got into the scoring.

From the beginning, Harvard showed it planned to dominate the 1-3 Princeton squad.

The Tigers had "gotten off the bus" Friday night, but their good night's sleep didn't show. They fell behind early, as starting quarterback Tom Yohe led the Crimson to two first-quarter scores.

Fullback Tony Hinz first dented the orange end zone, taking a swing pass from Yohe and rambling 10 yards for the score. Alan Hall hit the conversion attempt to put Harvard on top 7-0.

Yohe later hit split end Kevin Collins with a 10-yard strike as Collins was crossing the goal line to make the score 13-0 (14-0 after Jay Vanderpool's kick).

Rod MacLeod came in as Harvard's quarterback in the second period, and directed a running drive down to the Princeton one-yard line.

On first and goal from the one, the Crimson coaching staff unveiled its answer to the Chicago Bears' William "The Refrigerator" Perry.

Starting guard Maurice "The Stove" Frilot was moved to fullback to provide blocking heft for the Harvard backfield. The 252-pounder plowed through a Tiger defender, leading the way for Tony Hinz' Walter Payton-style touchdown dive.

Frilot enjoyed his temporary position switch, but forecasts no glory for The Stove. "What I like most," he said, "is that I get six yards to build up as much momentum as possible. If I ever got the ball, though, I wouldn't know what to do."

Coach Kubacki credited the formation to Frilot. "He watched Monday night football [the Bears vs. Packers game in which Perry appeared as a fullback] and came in the next day to ask if we could do the same thing. I figured I'd give it a try."

The half ended with Harvard in control, 21-0.

"We didn't start well," Princeton coach Ned Panfield said, "but I thought we could come back."

The Crimson made Panfield give up that thought very quickly.

Harvard linebacker Greg Ubert picked off a Princeton aerial on the Tigers' opening drive, giving the offense possession at Princeton's 27 yard line.

Two plays later, with the conversion, the Crimson had a 28-0 lead. Quarterback David Kuhn threw a short out pass to tight end Don Gajewski, and Gajewski broke tackles down the sideline to complete a 25-yard touchdown play.

Princeton's continued inept play led to the final Harvard tally. Crimson adjuster Rod Comisar grabbed a Tiger fumble out of the air at the visitors' 20-yard line and fell to the 18.

After advancing only nine yards in three plays, Harvard's offense faced a fourth and one situation at the Princeton nine yard line. Disdaining the field goal, the Crimson attempted to run for the first down.

That looked like a bad decision when halfback Sean Carew fumbled the ball at the line of scrimmage. But credit Carew with an assist.

The ball rolled into the end zone, where offensive tackle Ron Cami pounced on it for a touchdown. "A touchdown by an offensive lineman--that's just something that doesn't happen," Cami said. "It was a lucky play. I just happened to be in the right place."

Coach Kubacki said he was "very pleased" with the Crimson's performance.