The Game: can the fourth time be a charm?

The Bulldogs head into Cantab country for a final chance at glory, and the Ivy League title.

By Sharon Lin

It was 76 years ago that Harvard completed its last four-year sweep of Yale, and Bulldog fans and players alike are hoping this bit of history won't repeat itself. Heading into Saturday with the weight of three straight Game losses on their shoulders, the Elis are looking to avoid the embarrassing sweep and continue the resurgence that has characterized the year.

After finishing the 1997-98 season winless in the Ivy League, Yale head coach Jack Siedlecki had his work cut out for him. But work he did, and this year's Bulldogs have defied all expectations. This season's team has compiled a 5-4 overall record and, at 4-2 in the league heading into the weekend, will finish the season with its first winning record in the Ivies since 1991. The Bulldogs even cling to an outside chance of a league championship. Yet one goal remains unfulfilled. And it's one goal important enough to be Siedlecki's computer screensaver: Beat Harvard.

"Winning The Game means a lot to the seniors," tight end Brian Scharf, DC '99, said. "No one wants to be the group who couldn't beat Harvard in four years." For this season to be considered a true success, Yale must beat the Crimson.

Of course, winning won't be easy--victories in The Game never are. Harvard will be trying to salvage a disappointing season with a victory over its arch-rival. Last year's league champion and the preseason favorite for this year's Ivy crown, the Crimson enters the game 4-5 overall and 3-3 in the Ivy League. So what will happen? In a topsy-turvy year that has seen numerous teams contend for the league title, not even Harvard head coach Tim Murphy seems to know. "We're not as good as we were last year, and Yale has improved," he said. "Yale has improved on both sides of the ball. I don't know if we are even the favorite." They shouldn't be. A look at Saturday's offensive and defensive matchups reveals that the Bulldog seniors should lead their team to the win and, in so doing, avoid a dubious place in history.

When Yale has the ball

Perhaps the biggest change in New Haven this season has been the remarkable improvement of the Yale offense. A year ago, the Bulldogs were held to 10 points or fewer in 7 of 10 contests. They ranked last in the league in pass offense (117 yards per game), total offense (222.3) and scoring offense (11.3 points per game). But this year, the Bulldogs rank behind only pass-happy Brown in total offense and boast the league's most balanced attack.

The team's offensive leader is quarterback Joe Walland, TD '00. Recruited to Yale as a defensive back, the Mentor, Ohio native switched to quarterback during the spring of his freshman year. In the 1997 campaign, Wal-land was one of three signal-callers to see significant action. But this season, there is no such controversy. Walland has started every game for the Blue, passing for 1,711 yards and 11 touchdowns, while tossing only four interceptions. While his arm is a dangerous weapon in and of itself, Walland's mobility is especially threatening to opposing defenses. He is second on the team in rushing yards, averaging 40 per game, and leads the team with six rushing touchdowns.

The only player with more yards on the ground is tail-back Rashad Bartholomew, SY '01. The Air Force transfer ranks second in the league in yards per game with 101. His 4.4 speed in the 40 allows him to reach the corner faster than virtually any running back in Yale history. Bartholomew has also benefitted from the solid blocking of fullback Derek Bentley, SM '99, and a veteran offensive line. Right tackle Marek Rubin, ES '99, is a pro prospect and was invited to play in the Blue-Gray All Star Classic on Christmas Day. The line has surrendered only 12 sacks on the year.

The Elis' leading rusher from a year ago, Jake Fuller, BR '00, transferred to wide receiver in the offseason and has been an integral part of the Bulldog receiving corps. Ken Marschner, SY '99, who broke the schools' single-game receptions record in the loss to Colgate, and Jake Borden, JE '00, who caught a touchdown pass to win the Brown game, are tall targets for Walland.

Needless to say, the Harvard defense will have its hands full. While Yale's offensive production has been on the rise this season, the Crimson's defense has slipped. A year ago, Harvard led the league in total defense (268 yards per game) and held its opponents to under 10 points in six of 10 games. But this season the Crimson ranks seventh in the league in total defense (368 yards per game) and has surrendered 20 or more points in six of nine contests. Despite its overall decline, the Harvard defense does boast one individual superstar. Linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski '00, the Ivy League Rookie of the Year two seasons ago and a first team All-Ivy performer last year, has enjoyed another stellar campaign. His 65 solo and 98 total tackles lead the team.

When Harvard has the ball

Like its defense, the Crimson's offense has been unspectacular this season, especially compared to last year's squad. A season ago, the Crimson averaged 427 yards per game and scored more than 30 points on five occasions. This year's edition has not enjoyed as much success. Harvard has averaged only 288 yards per game and has only topped the 20-point mark once.

The junior duo of quarterback Rich Linden '00 and tailback Chris Menick '00, so impressive in Harvard's championship run a season ago, have returned to Earth.

A first team All-Ivy selection in 1997, Menick has missed two games this year due to injury. He currently ranks third in the league in rushing (98.9 yards per game), far below his 127-yard average from last season. His touchdown production has also dropped from 12 to 4.

Linden has also struggled. Thus far, he has passed for 1,043 yards, three touchdowns and seven interceptions. That's quite a change from his impressive statistics from last season. In 1997, Linden threw for 2,099 yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

This weakened offensive side will face a Yale defense that, though much improved over last season, is still somewhat vulnerable. The only strength of the Bulldog squad last season was its defensive line. However, with the loss of several seniors from that group, the defensive front had to be rebuilt. Late in the season, Siedlecki seems to have finally found the right combination. The Bulldogs play with a five-man front. Defensive ends Peter Sarantos, MC '00, and Jeff Hockenbrock, PC '00, are dangerous, having combined for 14 sacks. Middle guard Andy Tuzzolino, TD '00, comes off the sidelines to torment opposing quarterbacks.

The linebacker duo of Peter Mazza, JE '01, and Scott Benton, MC '99, is one of the best in the league. Mazza leads the team with 80 tackles, while Benton is second with 67. The secondary is Yale's most inconsistent area. Though the Bulldogs lead the league with 17 interceptions, including five by Ben Blake, PC '00, they have fallen victim to the big play often. Big-game performer Nate Boxrucker, BK '99, is another force in the defensive backfield.

Special Teams

The one glaring weakness of this year's Yale team has been the play of its special teams. Though Mike Murawczyk, MC '01, leads the league with 11 field goals (in 15 attempts), the Bulldogs' punting and return teams have struggled. Clark Mercer, MC '02, who took over thepunting duties midway through the season, has averaged a meager 31.2 yards per kick. Justin Davis, PC '01, has recently emerged as the Bulldogs' premiere kickoff return specialist.

Todd Tomich, TC '01, is an effective punt returner, but his two untimely fumbles contributed to Yale's loss at Dartmouth.

Matthew Goldenberg and Alison Morris contributed to this article. Photo of Rashad Bartholomew, SY '01, by Julia Tiernan.

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