Gridders Don't Mind Being the Underdog

Now it get's interesting.

After last week's near-upset of Division I Army, the Harvard football team (1-1, 1-0 Ivy) enters today's contest against Holy Cross in a familiar role: underdog.

A perennial powerhouses in Division I-AA football, the Crusaders field a high-powered offense that has carried the school to a 3-0 start, including wins over the University of Massachusetts and Boston University. Holy Cross has won 12 straight games--the longest streak in I-AA football history.

Last week, the Crusaders sternly thrashed Pennsylvania, 45-0. In fact, one might expect that Holy Cross could inflict a similar beating on its other Ivy opponents.

But, as the Crimson revealed last week against Army, pre-game predictions mean very little.

Behind sophomore quarterback Mike Giardi and a solid defensive effort, the Crimson jumped out to a 20-7 lead against Army in the first three quarters, wowing even its most cynical critics.

Though Harvard lost the effort, 21-20, in the final moments, the Crimson definitely sent a strong message.

"Just like last week, we're the underdog," Giardi said. "All the pressure's on them. We can just play our game. Against Army, we did everything we wanted."

Almost everything, that is.

Harvard couldn't sustain its defensive intensity into the fourth quarter, letting the Cadets march downfield twice in the final stanza to capture the win.

While such a loss might cause the Crimson to lose spirit, Captain John Lausch believes Harvard has learned from its mistakes.

"It was definitely a confidence-builder," Lausch said. "It's disappointing to lose, but you have to look past that. We're looking this week to have no letdowns."

Harvard's main task against Holy Cross will be to contain the potent Crusader attack. Senior quarterback Tom Ciaccio has generated 791 yards in the air, including four touchdowns, so far this year, and is on target to become the Crusaders' all-time leading quarterback.

Last year, Ciaccio connected on 54, 59 and 75 yard touchdown passes to lead the Crusaders to a 35-14 burning of the Crimson.

The Crusaders also feature a solid rushing game behind senior fullback Jerome Fuller. Fuller, who is also Holy Cross' leading scorer, has rushed for 498 yards and 6 touchdowns this year.

While Harvard's defense held strong against Army's all-wishbone option for most of the game, the Crimson will have to adjust to the Crusaders' more balanced attack.

"We're going to have to stop both the run and the pass," Lausch said. "It's definitely going to be a big challenge."

Totally Confused

While an impotent offense kept Harvard from keeping pace with the Crusaders last year, this year's newly-recharged attack should make the game interesting.

Giardi has shown his skill at captaining the Crimson offense, collecting 449 yards in two games, including only one interception. If the Crusaders' offense takes off--as it is likely to do--the Mather sophomore will be called on to keep the Crimson in the game.

Giardi's main weapons include leading rusher Kendrick Joyce (36 carries, 126 yards, 3.5 avg.), full-back Matt Johnson, who blitzed for a 72-yd. touchdown last week and leading receiver Robb Hirsch (9 receptions, 143 yards, 15.9 avg.).

Last week, the Crimson's eccentric offensive play-calling kept Army's guessing--often guessing wrong. If Harvard can utilize the Multiflex, the Crimson may jump out to another early lead.

"Offensively, we have to try to match them," Giardi said. "We have to mix them up and confuse them as we did against Army. Against Army, we had them totally confused. Hopefully, we'll have Holy Cross totally confused."