ITHACA, N.Y.--Harvard football fans' worst nightmares almost came true today, as the Crimson's third quarterback of the season, Mike Smerczynski, was sacked in the second quarter. Smerczynski limped off the field, but the injury is only a sprain and he may play next week.

In the other news, a frozen and downtrodden Crimson football squad dropped an embarrassing 41-14 contest this afternoon here at Schoellkopf field.

With 9000 fans screaming "Goodbye Harvard," the Big Red twisted the knife ever deeper, adding a 79-yd. touchdown bomb from third-string quarterback Chris Metz to a streaking Jim Burry with less than a minute to play. The final score capped an afternoon that Crimson fans and players will want to forget quickly.

Harvard won the toss and elected to kick off. Cornell's game plan was to match its strength--rushing--against the Crimson's strength--rushing defense.

After four consecutive running plays and a first down, the Big Red struck into Harvard territory with a quick slant pass over the middle from Mike Tanner to tight end Paul Goodberlet.

But the defense toughened up, and after a roughing penalty on Cornell, the Crimson held the hosts motionless and forced them to punt.

Harvard also went to the ground but could not get untracked in its first possession. Duke Millard continued to show improvement, however, booming a 42-yd. punt to keep Cornell out of scoring range.

The defense quickly got the ball back on an impressive series featuring a quarterback sack by linebacker Bob Woolway. The offense stalled after running!for one first down. After a penalty and a sack, the Crimson was pinned deep in its own territory with a third and a mile to go.

Cornell then sent ten men in on Millard and a wall of red shirts slapped the ball into the endzone, where defensive end Kent Craven pawed the ball for the touchdown. Cornell added the extra point to put the Crimson in an early 7-0 hole.

After another uninspiring offensive series by Harvard, Cornell resumed its dominance, driving the ball down the field on the ground to close up the first quarter on the Crimson 31.

On the first snap of the second period, Cornell kicker Ron Rejda made it 10-0 with a booming 47-yd. field goal.

Harvard then started a drive as Ken Beatrice and John Hollingsworth worked left for a first down on two runs to the Cornell 34. But the Big Red smothered the drive when quarterback Brian McFarlin recovered a Smerczyski fumble at the Cornell 43.

Quarterback Mike Ryan, the Big Red's usual second-quarter signal caller, opened up quickly with a 15-yd. keeper to the 28. On third and six from the 25, from Ryan-to-Brad-Decker fell through the receiver's frozen hands with Terry Trusty covering in the endzone.

But the Big Red would not go down quietly, and the cannon-legged Rejda knocked in a 42-yd. field goal to make it 13-0 early in the second period.

With Beatrice working left on pitchouts from Smerczynski, Harvard began to drive upfield. On a second and five from the 47, Smerczynski was sacked and limped off the field. Joe Lahti then entered the game and immediately ossed a 17-yd. bullet that Richie Horner snared with a leaping grab at the sidelines on the Big Red 40-yd. stripe.