Crimson hopes to make Penn quake

Primed and prepped all season long, the 7-0 Harvard football team doesn’t do downtime. No soon after taming the Columbia Lions (2-5, 2-3 Ivy) 45-33 last Saturday (Nov. 3) in Manhattan, the unbeaten Harvard football team had its sights set on the next (and biggest) test yet, an undefeated Penn team. Saturday’s Ivy showdown of the unbeaten – the first of its kind since 1968 – assures the winner at least a share of the Ivy League title, something the Crimson last enjoyed in 1997.

The defense-minded Quakers – ranked 19th in the national polls – look to preserve their Ivy title from a year ago. Penn have allowed opponents just eight touchdowns on the year.

However, coach Tim Murphy’s squad, enjoying some national recognition of its own with a 24th ranking in The Sports Network Division I-AA Top-25, boasts an unusually healthy offense for Saturday’s affair, with tailback Nick Palazzo ’03, running back Josh Staph ’02, and quarterback Neil Rose ’02 all set for action. As a bonus, receiver Carl Morris ’03 will enter the contest fresh from setting some school records for career receiving yardage (1,991) and career touchdown catches (16) against Columbia.

Kickoff for Saturday’s game at the stadium is 12:30 p.m. For tickets, call 1-877-GO-HARVARD.

– Andrew Brooks