There are moments of games where everyone in the stadium realizes that the game's outcome may well be riding on the outcome of the next play.

So midway through the second quarter, when Yale coach Carm Cozza decided to go for the first down on a fourth-and-seven at the Harvard 40-yard line with Harvard having just taken a 7-0 lead, all in the stadium were on the edge of their seats.

If Yale converted, they would be in position to score and even up the game at seven. If the Elis failed to get the first, Harvard would be sitting pretty on its 40-yard line.

On the play, Yale quarterback Blake Kendall dropped back quickly and fired a pass to Heath Ackley on the Yale sideline.

Ackley hauled in the pigskin, and for a moment, it looked as if the gamble had paid off.

But Harvard's Kane Waller provided coverage that was just too tight, and Ackley was ruled out of bounds.

Waller roared off the field with his fists pumping and his hands in the air.

He knew. Harvard knew.

This moment was the Crimson's window of opportunity. Another touchdown would give Harvard a 14-0 lead before the Yale offense even got into the game.

Despite this, the Crimson offense sputtered. Two plays from scrimmage gained the Crimson no yardage.

On the third play of the series, freshman quarterback Rich Linden hooked up with junior wide receiver Colby Skelton on a little outside screen pass. Skelton took the pass and ran back into the inside of the field but could not find daylight and was downed at the line of scrimmage.

Perhaps the gods were on Harvard's side Saturday.

Like manna from heaven, Yale was penalized for grabbing Skelton's face mask on the way down. Harvard got five yards, and third down was repeated. Instead of a fourth-and-ten on which they would have punted, Harvard had a third-and-five at their own 47.

Harvard converted on the next play, thanks again to the largess of the Yale defense, which coughed up a ten-yard holding penalty. And then came the reverse.

Linden rolled off to the right, handed off to senior tailback Eion Hu, who completed Harvard's first reverse of the game by handing off to Skelton, who carried the ball for a whopping 38 yards to the five.