Up 23-10 and having allowed only a first-quarter field goal, Harvard didn't need much to sew the game up. However, it let the Big Red march 72 yards in 11 plays for a touchdown.

The Crimson made its stand at the Harvard 18, where it sacked Rahne and forced two incompletions to set up fourth-and-11. Senior end Mike Sands crushed Rahne, forcing a pop-up pass that senior linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski grabbed for what would have been his second pick of the day. However, a defensive holding penalty gave Cornell 10 yards and an automatic first down.

In retrospect, the call was devastating. It was Harvard's ninth penalty of the day and by far the most costly.

With new life, Cornell got to the 2 on two plays then threw a lob to 6'6 Joe Splendorio over 5'9 Kane Waller. It was a play everyone saw coming, but Harvard still had a six-point lead with 2:53 to go in the game.

The Crimson punted on its next possession and got only a 32-yard effort from senior punter Mike Giampaolo. Cornell's Vincent Bates returned the ball 10 yards to set up his team's offense at the Cornell 42. With no time outs left, 1:14 to go, and needing a touchdown, the Big Red looked like toast, but it showed the same resilience that helped it score 26 unanswered points to beat Brown, 33-28.

Rahne hit three big passes then found Keith Ferguson from 18 yards out for the score. Ferguson was running toward the sideline on the left side, and he somehow managed to wriggle between senior Ben Green and junior Mike Brooks, the starting safeties. The extra point completed the comeback for the 24-23 final.

It wasn't all the defense's fault, of course. After the Crimson picked off Rahne on two straight possessions, giving the offense the ball at the Cornell 37 and the Harvard 46, Harvard came away with only two field goals.