Harvard 'D' Looks Like Old Self

HANOVER, N.H.--I guess it's in the spirit of Halloween to say: They're b-a-a-a-a-ck!

That famous quote from Poltergeist applies to Harvard's defense, which was ghastly at the beginning of the season but now looks like a unit that can lead the team to an Ivy repeat.

Harvard (4-3, 3-1 Ivy) beat Dartmouth (2-5, 1-3 Ivy) 20-7 Saturday on the road. The Big Green should feel fortunate to have gotten seven, because that score was a fourth-quarter gift. That touchdown, which came with 8:10 left in the game, kept Dartmouth from a second straight shutout loss to Harvard, which won 24-0 last year. In 1996, Dartmouth won 6-3.

The Crimson ended up allowing a stingy 225 total yards, and only 50 came on the ground. But the game was over even before junior Mike Giampaolo hit a career long-tying 43-yard field goal to give Harvard a 20-0 lead with 4:09 left in the third quarter.

Not much later than that, the Crimson began to play softer against the pass, obviously content to trade yards for time.

At the half, Dartmouth had 24 yards on 22 rushes. It had 59 yards passing to give a pathetic 83-yard net. Harvard was up 10-0 at intermission, and an incredible defensive third quarter made sure that the Crimson offense could play relaxed.

Want to know how bad Dartmouth's third quarter was? 15 offensive plays, 12 yards. The Big Green's three drives collectively lasted as long as a trip through downtown Hanover and were even less exciting.

On the opening drive of the second half, Dartmouth converted on third down and had the ball on its 46-yard line. An incompletion and two sacks later, it was punting from its 38-yard line. That drive was a microcosm of how the first three quarters went for the Big Green.

The Dartmouth offensive line spent more time pulling quarterbacks Mike Coffey and Brian Mann up off the ground than it did protecting them. Harvard recorded seven sacks, but the player Coffey and Mann will have nightmares of is junior tackle Chris Nowinski, who had four sacks and six tackles.

Nowinski made an impact from the first play, when he burst across the line anddragged Reggie Belhomme down for a one-yard gain.

"They handled us up front," Dartmouth CoachJohn Lyons said. "Very similar to last year, theirdefensive line just whipped us up front."

Nowinski played well in relief last year butwas clearly overshadowed by Harvard's incredibleall-senior line. Three of the four starters wereAll-Ivy First Team during their careers.

The line was the glue that held the teamtogether with both its talent and leadership.Other teams didn't have time to throw the ball,and the line was equally stout against therun--Harvard didn't allow a rushing touchdown inseven Ivy games.

Harvard Coach Tim Murphy has alluded somewhatlongingly to that line several times this year. Asmuch as its praises were sung last year, that unitwasn't fully appreciated until Harvard lost itsfirst three games. In Week Two, a 34-14 loss toColgate, the Crimson gave up 474 yards. A weeklater, Harvard surrendered 501 yards to Lehigh ina 21-17 loss.

But as Harvard's defense formed a new identity,good results followed. The Crimson held Cornell to289 yards in a 19-12 win, Harvard's first of theseason. Holy Cross managed only 259 yards andsurrendered five sacks in Harvard's 20-14 WeekFive win.

Harvard gave up 460 yards in last week's 23-22win over Princeton but held the Tigers scorelessfor the last 11 minutes. Maybe it was the date,but watching the Dartmouth game was spooky dejavu.

"It's taken a little time for us to gel as ateam," Nowinski said. "I think everyone as anindividual has made great improvement throughworking with [defensive line] Coach [David] Dunn,with repping pass rush drills every day, and Ithink that's made a huge difference in the waywe're playing on Saturdays."

Last year, we used to laugh up in the press boxas we watched teams try to "establish the run"against Harvard. Dartmouth deserves credit fortrying, but a 1.4 yards-per-carry average will geta pat on the back only from Mom.

The past few weeks have shown why teamsfront-load their season with non-conference games.It's nice to work out the kinks when the gamesdon't count as much.

Harvard's defensive line, one of the biggestquestion marks, has worked its way up to a periodat least, if not an exclamation point. CaptainBrendan Bibro and senior Artie Jones have stoodout recently, and Nowinski joined in this weekend.

The 1998 line will probably never be amurderer's row like Bibro, Chris Smith, TimFleiszer, Chris Schaefer and Jason Hughes. Itdoesn't have to be, as long as it forms its ownidentity.

The rest of the defense has played at a similarlevel to last year. The linebacking corps is assolid as expected. Junior Isaiah Kacyvenski leadsthe team with 77 tackles, and senior Scott Larkeeis second with 66. Senior Joe Weidle has made somebig plays, especially on special teams.

The secondary, despite being victimized againstLehigh, has held its own. Senior safety DerekYankoff has filled in for Jeff Compas '98 with noproblems, and he leads the team with threeinterceptions.

Dartmouth had 95 yards after three quarters. Asmentioned, Harvard's defense eased up on thethrottle (maybe it felt bad for the Big Green),and Dartmouth tacked on 130 fourth quarter yardsand the consolation touchdown.

So as bad as Dartmouth's final offensive totalwas, it was a major step up from before.

Harvard's defense is back. As for the titlehopes previously given up for dead, they'rea-live--A-LIVE

"They handled us up front," Dartmouth CoachJohn Lyons said. "Very similar to last year, theirdefensive line just whipped us up front."

Nowinski played well in relief last year butwas clearly overshadowed by Harvard's incredibleall-senior line. Three of the four starters wereAll-Ivy First Team during their careers.

The line was the glue that held the teamtogether with both its talent and leadership.Other teams didn't have time to throw the ball,and the line was equally stout against therun--Harvard didn't allow a rushing touchdown inseven Ivy games.

Harvard Coach Tim Murphy has alluded somewhatlongingly to that line several times this year. Asmuch as its praises were sung last year, that unitwasn't fully appreciated until Harvard lost itsfirst three games. In Week Two, a 34-14 loss toColgate, the Crimson gave up 474 yards. A weeklater, Harvard surrendered 501 yards to Lehigh ina 21-17 loss.

But as Harvard's defense formed a new identity,good results followed. The Crimson held Cornell to289 yards in a 19-12 win, Harvard's first of theseason. Holy Cross managed only 259 yards andsurrendered five sacks in Harvard's 20-14 WeekFive win.

Harvard gave up 460 yards in last week's 23-22win over Princeton but held the Tigers scorelessfor the last 11 minutes. Maybe it was the date,but watching the Dartmouth game was spooky dejavu.

"It's taken a little time for us to gel as ateam," Nowinski said. "I think everyone as anindividual has made great improvement throughworking with [defensive line] Coach [David] Dunn,with repping pass rush drills every day, and Ithink that's made a huge difference in the waywe're playing on Saturdays."

Last year, we used to laugh up in the press boxas we watched teams try to "establish the run"against Harvard. Dartmouth deserves credit fortrying, but a 1.4 yards-per-carry average will geta pat on the back only from Mom.

The past few weeks have shown why teamsfront-load their season with non-conference games.It's nice to work out the kinks when the gamesdon't count as much.

Harvard's defensive line, one of the biggestquestion marks, has worked its way up to a periodat least, if not an exclamation point. CaptainBrendan Bibro and senior Artie Jones have stoodout recently, and Nowinski joined in this weekend.

The 1998 line will probably never be amurderer's row like Bibro, Chris Smith, TimFleiszer, Chris Schaefer and Jason Hughes. Itdoesn't have to be, as long as it forms its ownidentity.

The rest of the defense has played at a similarlevel to last year. The linebacking corps is assolid as expected. Junior Isaiah Kacyvenski leadsthe team with 77 tackles, and senior Scott Larkeeis second with 66. Senior Joe Weidle has made somebig plays, especially on special teams.

The secondary, despite being victimized againstLehigh, has held its own. Senior safety DerekYankoff has filled in for Jeff Compas '98 with noproblems, and he leads the team with threeinterceptions.

Dartmouth had 95 yards after three quarters. Asmentioned, Harvard's defense eased up on thethrottle (maybe it felt bad for the Big Green),and Dartmouth tacked on 130 fourth quarter yardsand the consolation touchdown.

So as bad as Dartmouth's final offensive totalwas, it was a major step up from before.

Harvard's defense is back. As for the titlehopes previously given up for dead, they'rea-live--A-LIVE