Harvard called a timeout to set up its defense before the next play. Whatever the Crimson discussed in the timeout, it didn't work.

Lee dropped back to pass and saw Johnson running a slant route into the end zone. Lee threw the pass to Johnson high and to his left. In what was the most impressive play of The Game, Johnson tipped Lee's pass to himself with his left hand before grabbing it with his right hand just before he went out of the back of the end zone.

Johnson's improbable catch tied the score at 24 with 8:35 to go in The Game.

"Johnson is just a spectacular player," Yale Coach Jack Siedlecki said. "We laugh everyday in practice because he makes catches like that every day."

The Crimson tried to respond with its potent passing offense. However, Rose, who set the Crimson's single season touchdown record, was pressured on every down. On third down, his pass floated in the air too long and junior free safety Ryan LoProto picked off the pass.

In fact, every subsequent Crimson drive would end in a turnover, making it only a matter of time before the Elis took the lead, and they wasted no time.

"You have to give credit to Yale," Murphy said. "They have a fast, athletic defense and they forced turnovers."