There wasn't all that much at stake, really -- oh, a few individual records maybe, but not the Ivy title, which had slipped from Harvard's grasp weeks ago. But in a game that will be remembered for years to come, the Harvard and Yale football teams put on an offensive fireworks display that kept the sellout crowd on the edge of their seats for 60 minutes.

For the record, Yale won, 35-28, Larry Brown broke Mike Holt's single-season passing record and John Spagnola broke Gary Fencik's career receptions mark. What will be passed down over the years about this game, however, will be the memory of a remarkable string of dazzling pass catches and some of the best running and hard-nosed hitting that's been seen here this year.

The sellout crowd of 41,500--as if they hadn't been spoiled enough by the 68-degree weather--saw a first half show unparalled in excitement in recent years' action.

First, the vaunted Elis muscled past the Crimson defense for a pair of quick touchdowns. Then, with the threat of a pride-devastating blowout imminent, Crimson quarterback Larry Brown took it to the Eli defense, striking through the air to tie it up 14-all in the second, quarter.

The improbable circus continued as the first half clock ran down. The Elis continued to display offensive dominance, and busted through for two more TDs on a pair of incredible plays that will be remembered for years to come.

The Crimson defense suffered in the half, reeling backward on most series, while giving up 275 yards of total offense.

Nowhere were the defense's weaknesses more evident than in Yale's opening possession.

Poised Eli quarterback Pat O'Brien guided the I-option running attack and explosive passing game downfield cooly, as the visitors marched decisively for 74 yards in 13 plays in a 7-zip lead. Even a 15-yard holding penalty failed to halt the Eli onslaught.

The Bulldogs ripped the yardage out in consistent, small-sized chunks, with O'Brien and tailback Ken Hill (95 half yards) leading the effort. O'Brien himself took it in for the score at 6:12 on a zig-zag option keeper that may be the finest running play seen at The Stadium this year.

The Crimson, playing with the wind at its back in the opening quarter, right away engineered a mini-drive, but missed a chance to get on the board when Gary Bosnic cream-puffed a 43-yd. field-goal attempt.

After an exchange of Mike Sullivan-Al MacMurray punts, the Big Blue Machine got in gear once more, driving 69 yards for the second score five minutes into the second quarter.

The Crimson defense was succeeding in shutting down all-Ivy split end John Spagnola, but Yale was going in and out for consistent, five-yard rushing gains. Fullback Rick Angelone got into the spotlight for the first time by shooting over left guard for 15 yards, then knifing 10 yards through traffoc for a touchdown on the very next play.

Less than 20 minutes into the game, Yale had a 14-zip lead and a chance to write a Harvard-humiliating chapter into the history of The Game.

Harvard signal-caller Brown knows the ropes, though, and he knew that a quick score was needed. And he went out and got it.

Taking the ball on the Crimson 35, Brown sent halfback Ralph Polillio (41 first-half yards) on rushing missions after rushing mission, while mixing it up with a couple of well-thrown but barely thwarted passing attempts.