For the past two years, the only consistency the Harvard football team has maintained is its ability to let games slip out of its fingers.

And it happened again Saturday afternoon in front of a sellout crowd of 30,898 at Harvard Stadium.

A combination of seven Crimson turnovers, a tough Eli defense and the spectacular play of Yale senior wide receiver Eric Johnson sealed the 34-24 win for Yale in the 117th playing of The Game.

Although junior quarterback Neil Rose, sophomore wideout Carl Morris and senior tailback Chuck Nwokocha set school records during the afternoon, Harvard was unable to capitalize on its offensive feats. Even a 94-yard kickoff return by Nwokocha at the start of the second quarter could not preclude Harvard's second-half woes.

Nwkocha's touchdown set a Game record for the longest kickoff return for a touchdown.

"It was a frustrating loss," Harvard Coach Tim Murphy said. "We were not able to finish things off. We have got to be able to develop a killer instinct."

In the middle of the fourth quarter, with Harvard up 24-17, Yale stopped a Crimson drive deep in Harvard territory and regained possession of the ball on its own 47-yard line. Their ensuing drive would culminate in a spectacular touchdown catch by Johnson and the beginning of the end for the Crimson.

On second-and-6, Yale junior quarterback Peter Lee, who completed 25-of-37 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown, threw as he was hit by Harvard junior defensive end Marc Laborsky. Johnson made the reception over the middle for a long gain to the Harvard 36-yard line. A Lee scramble brought the ball to the 14-yard line and a couple rushes by senior Rashad Bartholomew, who had 123 yards on the day, advanced the Bulldogs to the 8.