Football Buries Brown, 27 - 10

PROVIDENCE, R.I.--Don't let the big guy beat you.

It is how several teams have eliminated the San Antonio Spurs from the playoffs, how a team could beat the Bulls--in theory--and a big part of how the Harvard football team beat Brown on Saturday.

Of course the Crimson victory had much to do with the success of its running game in the second half and its stifling red zone defense, but just as big a factor was the ability of the secondary to stop First-Team All-Ivy wide receiver Sean Morey.

"The thing we said going in was, 'If we don't give up the big plays against Brown, we think we're gonna' win,'" said Harvard Coach Tim Murphy. "Sean Morey has made so many big plays, but between [senior safety] Jeff [Compas] and the rest of the secondary, we gave him his throws but we didn't give him any big plays."

Morey is reaching the climax of one of the most prolific receiving careers in the history of the Ivy League. The junior flanker entered Saturday's game leading the nation in reception yards per game (143), third in Ivy League history in career touchdown receptions (24) and sixth in career receiving yards (2381).

The 129 receiving yards Morey racked up yesterday gave him 1,137 on the season, which ranks him third on the alltime single-season list. If he adds 185 yards to that total, he will take over Princeton's Derek Graham (1983 season) for first place all time.

Indeed early on it looked like Week Eight of the Ivy football season would be Episode Eight of the Sean Morey show. On the opening drive of Saturday's game, Morey was involved in four of Brown's 14 plays and 38 of its 75 yards.

He followed that up by chipping in 54 yards on three catches--including a 22-yard touchdown reception--in Brown's second scoring drive of the game, near the end of the first quarter.

But in pass defense as in many other aspects of Saturday's game, Harvard was a different team after the halftime break.

"In the second half, we came out and tried to be fundamentally sound," Compas said.

On Brown's first drive of the half, with the Bears trying to respond to losing the lead after a Crimson touchdown, Morey was the go-to guy. He began the drive by receiving junior Ryan Korinke's kickoff near the 10, running left across the field, then darting towards the left sideline for 27 yards.

Then, after an incomplete pass and a short run, Brown faced a third-and-six at its own 39-yard line. It was a big play, and sophomore quarterback James Perry went to his big-play guy. Perry dropped back and shot the ball over the middle to Morey.

But just as Morey was clamping his hands over the pigskin for the potential first-down reception, Compas flattened him, forcing the ball to pop out of his hands and forcing Brown to punt.

It was the beginning of the end for the Bears.

"Our defensive line put tremendous pressure on Perry, which allowed the secondary an extra advantage to go out and make some better breaks on the ball and break up some plays," Compas said.

After another Harvard touchdown made the score 21-10 in the third quarter, Brown drove to Harvard's 16-yard line.

Facing a third-and-10, the Bears once again went to Morey, and once again the Harvard secondary was ready. Perry took a quick drop and tossed a 20-yard pass to the back of the end zone.

With junior corner Derek Yankoff nearly draped around him, Morey extended his arms and nearly made a spectacular catch. But the second Morey touched the ball, Yankoff punished him for it, tossing him to the ground for an incomplete pass.

The Bears missed a 31-yard field goal attempt on the next play.

The carnage continued into the fourth quarter. After Morey made an eight-yard catch over the middle, Compas put him on the ground and left him there. Morey was slow to get up and had to sit out the next play.

Morey had three catches for 37 yards in Brown's scoreless second half. Although he made this week's Ivy League honor roll, Morey could not have felt good--psychologically or physically--about Harvard's victory

Then, after an incomplete pass and a short run, Brown faced a third-and-six at its own 39-yard line. It was a big play, and sophomore quarterback James Perry went to his big-play guy. Perry dropped back and shot the ball over the middle to Morey.

But just as Morey was clamping his hands over the pigskin for the potential first-down reception, Compas flattened him, forcing the ball to pop out of his hands and forcing Brown to punt.

It was the beginning of the end for the Bears.

"Our defensive line put tremendous pressure on Perry, which allowed the secondary an extra advantage to go out and make some better breaks on the ball and break up some plays," Compas said.

After another Harvard touchdown made the score 21-10 in the third quarter, Brown drove to Harvard's 16-yard line.

Facing a third-and-10, the Bears once again went to Morey, and once again the Harvard secondary was ready. Perry took a quick drop and tossed a 20-yard pass to the back of the end zone.

With junior corner Derek Yankoff nearly draped around him, Morey extended his arms and nearly made a spectacular catch. But the second Morey touched the ball, Yankoff punished him for it, tossing him to the ground for an incomplete pass.

The Bears missed a 31-yard field goal attempt on the next play.

The carnage continued into the fourth quarter. After Morey made an eight-yard catch over the middle, Compas put him on the ground and left him there. Morey was slow to get up and had to sit out the next play.

Morey had three catches for 37 yards in Brown's scoreless second half. Although he made this week's Ivy League honor roll, Morey could not have felt good--psychologically or physically--about Harvard's victory