Streak continues
Crimson wins season opener (and 10th game in a row)
![Carl](https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/wp-content/uploads/2002/09/07-football1-450-11.jpg)
Though it may not have been as pretty as usual, the Harvard football team scored a perfect 10 this past Saturday (Sept. 21) at the Stadium, holding off the high-flying Holy Cross Crusaders, 28-23, to claim their 10th consecutive victory over two seasons. And in spite of the seven penalties for 55 yards, or the fourth-quarter nail-biting, Harvard opened its 2002 season exhibiting the same poise that marked last year’s 9-0 campaign.
Up by 5 in the final stanza, the Crimson offense deftly denied 23rd-ranked Holy Cross possession for over 5 minutes. Led by sophomore quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who took the reins from senior captain Neil Rose – sidelined in the third quarter after sustaining a high hit from the Crusaders defense, Harvard expertly converted a triad of third-down situations, draining the game clock to victory.
![Neil Rose '03, Rodney Thomas](https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/wp-content/uploads/2002/09/07-football3-450-11.jpg)
Prior to this keen ball management, Rose and receiver Carl Morris ’03, who reeled in 11 receptions for 210 yards, conspired for 164 yards and a first-quarter touchdown. Harvard built a 21-7 lead at the half following Rose’s seven-yard pass to tailback Nick Palazzo ’03 and another five-yard toss to receiver Rodney Byrnes ’05. After the break, the Crimson responded to a Holy Cross field goal with one last touchdown – a 34-yard grab in the end zone by Morris – to make it 28-10. Thanks to the defensive fourth quarter heroics of a poised Harvard offense, Harvard’s last TD of the afternoon proved to be enough.
![H-Club board](https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/wp-content/uploads/2002/09/08-spirit1-450-11.jpg)
On defense, Buchanan Award candidate Dante Balestracci contributed nine tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble, earning the junior linebacker Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Harvard travels to Brown (0-1) this Saturday (Sept. 28) to kick off Ivy play. Things get underway at 1 p.m.