SPORTS

WEEKEND

// CLARISSA TAN

FRIENDS WITH THE ENEMY THE ENEMY

// BY ABBY ASMUTH

“call me ASAP.” Kate’s text comes in on July 7, 2022, 7:54 p.m.

When we start the FaceTime call, Kate greets me with a wide, playful grin on her face. She’s framed with her face up close to the camera. As always, I instantly pick up on Kate’s magnetic excitement. “What’s up?” I ask, smiling too. “Exciting news?”

Kate giggles. She slowly backs up in the FaceTime frame, revealing a crimson shirt, and eventually, Harvard written across her chest. “I’M GOING TO HARVARD!”

I let out a squeal — an honest first for myself. We scream and we laugh and we cry. After she hangs up to head to work, I send her an additional 17 texts, bursting with giddy pride. Admittedly, I even exclaim Harvard’s merits — which I’ll never repeat again, of course. But at that moment, there was no rivalry, only my friend’s accomplishment. Kate’s perseverance and resilience at last and so deservingly rewarded.

When Kate and I first met, I would never have expected to be one of her first calls with such life-changing news. And one of her only calls — in the most spectacularly Kate fashion, she revealed her Harvard news to most with a gender-reveal-esk announcement at her graduation party. Confetti cannons were popped, a flag was rolled down and the Harvard alma mater played over the loudspeaker. It was absolutely over-the-top and nothing short of sensational.

Kate and I first met in junior year of high school. Her parents’ work forced her from the romantic beauty of Lyon, France to Madison, Wisconsin. That Kate lived in France is one of the first things you will know about her. That she is not from Wisconsin is an important second. Kate came to my small class of 40, a class used to its normative characters and dynamics — loud, opinionated and boldly individual. Her hair was dyed jet-black, her outfits carefully coordinated, all of them distinct, monochromatic pairings. She shamelessly acknowledged that she had a polarizing personality. She declared her judgments with firm conviction, never shying away from an argument. Kate was fully and beautifully herself.

I, on the other hand, was more compromising: always working to bring my class together, to be friendly and agreeable to everyone around me. While Kate found joy in asserting her individualism, I found satisfaction in being a connector. Kate’s boldness — her commitment to being herself, for herself — took me off-guard. At first, it was discomforting; With time, it was captivating. Kate’s vitality and spunk were magnetic.

By senior spring, Kate and I had become incredibly close. Our personalities came to compliment each other: Kate empowered me to be bolder, while I softened Kate’s edges. And so, the fateful night of March 31, 2022 — Ivy Day — we were both rooting for each other, too. Kate knew Yale was my long-held dream; I knew Kate’s top choices were Harvard and Barnard — and as Barnard had waitlisted her, tensions were particularly high that night.

After decisions came out, Kate was first to text: “how did you do? I was waitlisted at Columbia and Harvard.” I waited a few minutes to respond, wanting to be honest about my excitement, but respectful to my friend. When I shared my news, her eagerness was clear: all caps and seven exclamation marks. I saw her later that night, and she brought me into a huge hug, exclaiming her excitement and pride.

Despite Kate’s daring individualism, despite her contentment in living for herself, she knows when to just be there too. She cheers on and uplifts those she holds close.

To her own news, Kate wasn’t distraught, but determined. She persisted and was accepted to Harvard, becoming the first person from our high school to ever get in.

Kate’s triumph was fabulous. Of course, after my initial giddiness at her acceptance, jokes of the Harvard-Yale rivalry ensued. My comments on her Instagram announcement echoed both my pride and “Huck Farvard” sentiments. When we traveled together later that summer — a last hurrah girls trip — Kate noted how fun it was when people would be impressed at the name Yale, but then doubly impressed when Harvard was dropped; I rolled my eyes. Meeting up in New York City this fall, we both wore our school’s respective merchandise to tease each other.

But really, rivalry aside, I know that Harvard is lucky. Lucky to have one of the most exceptional people I know in its student body. Lucky that someday, Harvard can tout Kate’s impact on the world on its alumni list.

And I have to admit, I’m even grateful to Harvard. Thanks to Harvard, one of my best friends is only two hours away.

Contact ABBY ASMUTH at abby.asmuth@yale.edu .

BULLDOGS ENTER THE GAME WITH IVY LEAGUE TITLE

ON THE LINE

The Yale football team (7–2, 5–1 Ivy) is set to face off against Harvard (6–3, 4–2 Ivy) with everything to play for in the biggest game of their season.

Cont. on page B2

THE GAME

With a win in the 138th playing of The Game, the Bulldogs would secure at least a share of the Ivy League championship in addition to a victory over their biggest rivals. Yale currently leads the all-time series 68–61–8, but were defeated last year by a heartbreaking last-second touchdown by the Crimson.

“Our team honors legacy, they honor tradition, so it definitely is more important and you feel the buzz around campus,” captain Nick Gargiulo ’23 said. “But the second part is it all falls back to us. We’re going to focus on what we need to do and how we need to do it. So that outside noise, while it’s encouraging, you know you’re excited to play in front of a big crowd and all the buzz around campus, it’s just about us. We’re just playing another game.”

All eyes in the sold-out Harvard Stadium will be on the rushing attacks for the two teams. However, for the Crimson, there will likely

Ivy League title on the line

only be one rusher to watch, while the Bulldogs boast two lead backs and a dangerous running quarterback.

Harvard is led by one of the best running backs the Ivy League has seen in years with senior Aidan Borguet. Borguet is an explosive runner that leads the Ancient Eight in rushing yards with 1,120 yards across nine games.

The Crimson back will look to build on his already-legendary performances in The Game, namely his record-breaking 2019 showcase in which he set the Yale-Harvard record with 269 rushing yards. Maybe even more impressive was that the yardage only came on 11 carries, four of which were touchdowns.

If Borguet is able to break a long run this year, head coach Tony Reno trusts that his team has what it takes to respond because he has seen it from them before.

“In my experience as a coach, for your very best teams, there’s a moment of opportunity that the team either seizes or the team lets go by,” Reno said. “I really feel like this team, as others we’ve had that have been this type of team, they saw an opportunity to really chase something and they took advantage of it.”

For the Bulldogs, the approach to running the ball is a bit di erent. After Borguet, the Elis have the next three highest rushers in the Ivy League with quarterback Nolan Grooms ’24 and running backs Tre Peterson ’24 and Joshua Pitsenberger ’26, each of whom has at least 585 yards .

With an o ensive line that has been hailed by many as the best in the Ivy League, either the Bulldog runners often fi nd plenty of space to take o , or Grooms typically has a clean pocket and time to deliver a strike to the talented receivers he has available.

For Harvard, the challenge with defending the Yale o ense will be the balance of stopping the potent running attack without being exposed to deep play-action passes.

If Grooms fakes the hando and pulls the ball to throw, he has multiple deep threat wide receivers. The duo of Mason Tipton ’24 and David Pantelis ’25 have proven their ability to get open against almost any defense in the league, with both averaging over 13 yards a catch.

For many of the Bulldogs, there is extra incentive, as The Game marks the final opportunity for the team’s seniors to don the Blue and White.

“I mean, they’re my brothers,” safety Kyle Ellis ’23 said. “For instance, I broke my ankle last year and that two-year period where you don’t play the game, you’re really looking forward to getting back on the field, getting back on the pitch with your brothers. I live with four other players and I come in and receive the same amount of love playing on the field. Through hard times, through good times, the thing I’m going to remember the most is the bonds I have with them.”

In the end, the task is simple for the Bulldogs: win and they will be champions of The Game.

In a ten-game season, everything has come down to the final game, but regardless of the outcome, the feeling around the team is sure to be a positive one.

“I love this team, I really do,” Reno said. “This is one of those teams that, as a coach, when I’m older and grayer, I’ll think back and smile about this team because of how they handle themselves day in and day out.”

The Game kicks off at noon on Saturday at Harvard Stadium and will be televised on ESPNU.

Contact SPENCER KING at spencer.king@yale.edu .

BREAKING NEWS: HUCK FARVARD

The Oldest College Daily: Ode to the Crimson Some very mid musings from The Stoopidist College Daily:

How does it feel to be

A cocky crimson fool, Realizing that all the hype

Veils the truth of your school? Andrew’s here to

Reveal what is known: Down with Harvard, it’s bad to the bone.

First, thing’s first: * Crimson * is the worst. * Bulldog * a real mascot.

Keep that as a thought. I prefer a cute doggo over

Non-personified red. Go figure out a real mascot instead.

So let’s sit and chat and talk about sports. Unlike in mascots, it’s close on the courts C’mon, even if you might win a few games,

Know that you must put respect on our names: See our 18 titles in the Hall of Fame.

Yet here we are, rivals forever, And writing our roasts, feeling oh-so clever.

Look, you’re kinda brash as we talk here and now, Even in writing, still holierthan-thou.

We Yalies have manners

In the way we talk smack. Little do you know the content Lenience made me hold back.

Why charge for parties In the range of hundreds of bucks? No fun for free, you capitalist f**ks?

The thing about villains,

Hating you feels too easy. Elitism at its peak just seems so sleazy.

Greatness attends Yale And so many come to mind. Morse, Streep, the Clintons, Education so refined.

Ever competitive, let’s talk

‘bout your alums, Arnold, Benedict; Cruz, Ted, those are just some; Shut up, little Crimson, this argument’s dumb. I guess you have more, so let’s keep on going

Like Zuckerberg — oh wait! Yup, he just stopped showing.

But there’s more to the Crimson

Your college color so grand

Allow me to explain why you just seem so bland.

Somehow, your school’s not top one in your town Crazy, we know the Engineers take you down. Or maybe BC or BU or Tufts

Running your town, that must feel so rough.

Eventually you’ll find that fifth-best is enough.

Old Harvard, you’re washed, you’re so past your prime. Forfeit the game, for this is Yale’s time.

3 times a day, we sit down to eat, 7 days a week, we know Harvard’s dead meat.

Time to end this for once and for all. Out with damn Harvard, no more time to stall.

2 all of the Harvard students not up to the test 4ever Yale triumphs, but keep doing your best. ! Bet the Harvard kids didn’t even realize this was all an acrostic!

Contact ANDREW CRAMER with fan mail at andrew.cramer@yale.edu .

Only losers write roasts as odes Eliys, your lack of wit forebodes Your impending doom The downfall of your team does loom Our real message, we wrote in code

Why are all of your parties 18 plus? No wonder last year we had to pregame on the bus Looks like we won’t be seeing you at Game On Have fun, the line for Oliver’s is preatty long

The tomfoolery that went down at Toad’s was kinda sus

Our final clubs are actually fun

Your societies can’t throw parties, not even one

John Kerry won’t talk about Skulll and Bones

But we know it’s a mere factory for clones

We have DJs and darties; you’d be pretty stunned

You claim to exercise editorial restraint Yet the actions of your judicial alumnus make us faint Yes, you have some soft as Charmin alumni No wonder your list of titles is hard to come by

At least your stadeium is sort of quaint

To your little New Haven hamlet, you sing praise

But to your snobbish town I riaise A city with some actual personality

You need a cure to your banality To be or not to be original — there’s only pizza for days

Nolan Grooms is today’s Phil Mickelson A lefty who fumbles the bag, no titles trickle in Meanwhile, Charlie Dean’s got major successs We know it’s Yale that puts Grooms under duress

It was Charlie, and always will be, racking up the wins

No manners I see, calling out elitissm is gauche

But while your dorms have street views, the river’s our approach Gothic in style, your dorms are scary The rats and roaches must make your students wary If our dorms are first-class, yours are coach Honestly, your mascot is inhumane Slobbery, perhaps, but “handsome” is insane

Whatever your logo, you still don’t have that dawg You’re part of the machine, an inconsequential cog

Your stunted, robottic efforts will, again, be in vain

To the YDN, our silly younger brother

Five years our junior, did the world really need another? Though snubbed by the Assoociated Press, the Elis read you

Probably cause there’s nothing fun to do

Front page will show the loss, not close, just smothered

To the Eli on the other end of this limerick — not ode

Perhaps consider transferring;

UConn is right down the road After this defeat, you won’t be welcoome here Please go out and get yourself a beer Before you break down, a call with your mom is owed

She can comfort you and whisper in your ear To try to ameliorate your rising fear That at our school, even droppouts make money on clicks Zuck beats out your Cheney, you can thank Dick

Our wars are in the meta, yours are out in the clear Nice try, you thought you were funny like Jerry But your wit moves slower than the Staten Island Ferry

Your true spirit is more Elaine Heed this roast, we’ll spell it to you plain: If theiy play like you write, little fear will we carry

We pray you enjoyed our limerick We wrote it for fun, just a little kick

Harvard kidds can actually enjoy intellectual exercise Knowing one day our bank accounts will be greater in size So, dear Elis, we have a message we must advise: Get the hell out of Cambridge real quick.

Gothic in style, your dorms are scary The rats and roaches must make your If our dorms are first-class, yours are Contact JACK SILVERS and KATHERINE FROST with grievances at jack.silvers@thecrimson.com and katharine.forst@thecrimson.com .

H

THE GAME

THE GAME: Bulldogs o ensive line leads the way

BY SPENCER KING STAFF REPORTER

The Yale football team (7–2, 5–1 Ivy) prides itself on being a physically dominant team. Nowhere is that more prevalent than on their offensive line.

Led by starting center and captain Nick Gargiulo ’23, the line has paved the way for the number one rushing attack in the Ivy League, which generates 5.5 yards a carry and an average of 234 yards a game.

“This year we’ve been able to have consistent play with the five guys that are out there,” the 6’5’’ and 290 pound Gargiulo said. “Just a constant and never-ending improvement from week to week to be able to put a good product out on the field.”

That effective running game has led to success for the Bulldogs, even when other teams know that it is coming. At 380 rushing plays on the season, Yale’s coaching staff has opted to run the ball more than any other team in the Ancient Eight, while amassing more than 600 total yards higher than the next best rushing attack.

The line is also quick to point to the complementing styles of their running backs. With lots of newly implemented gap scheme plays that take time for the line to set their blocks, the linemen appreciate the patient style of their running backs, namely three-time Ivy League Rookie of the Week Joshua Pitsenberger ’26.

“It just allows the play to develop,” left guard Cubby Schuller ’23 said, regarding Pitsenberger’s patience. “We have certain schemes that, they’re not immediate, they’ll take a second for two guys to get together and move the defensive lineman off the ball, so I think that [Pitsenberger’s] play style fits very well with our blocking scheme.”

At 6’6” and 301 pounds, it is easy to understand the power of any double team involving Schuller, especially if the play is to the left, where the second man coming to the double team would be 6’5”, 318 pound left tackle Kiran Amegadjie ’24.

At left tackle for his junior season, Amegadjie knows the importance of his and the o-line’s job. Several of the returning members of the unit felt that last season left lots of room for improvement.

“Specifically talking about the offensive line, I think that we were one of the weaker links and we didn’t want to be that coming into this season,” Amegadjie said. “We were coming into the film room on Sunday after games last year and being like ‘you know this is the same stuff that keeps showing up, the same mistakes.’ That’s where this offseason came into play and we didn’t want to be that group anymore.”

While much of the o season for the players was spent improving technique and in the weight room, they also undertook the tall task of learning a di erent running o ense.

As head coach Tony Reno has said, much of the o season for the coaching staff was spent “really researching a lot of really good teams and how they run the football” and then implementing what they saw into their own playbook.

With the threat of a running quarterback and dangerous running backs, the offensive line never finds a shortage of work in each game, as they are ninth in the FCS in rushing o ense.

JESSAI FLORES/ILLUSTRATIONS EDITOR COURTESY OF DAVID SCHAMIS

The Yale football team has dominated opponents on o ense with the best rushing attacks in the Ivy League, led by a strong group of o ensive linemen.

When asked what his favorite play was, Amegadjie had a quite straightforward answer.

“The most physical run play we have is ‘duo,’” Amegadjie said. “It’s just two double teams and that’s my favorite play cause me and Cubby [Schuller] just get to double-team guys. Put ‘em, take ‘em ten yards down the fi eld.”

The Bulldogs lead the Ivy League in rushing touchdowns with 20.

Contact SPENCER KING at spencer.king@yale.edu .

THE GAME: A rivalry as old as time

BY NICOLE RODRIGUEZ STAFF REPORTER

Steeped in history, the Yale–Harvard game is one of the oldest collegiate athletic events. The Blue and White have been meeting the Crimson on the gridiron since 1875, completing 137 total meetings to date.

The Bulldogs have claimed 68 victories, leading Harvard by seven.

“We take legacy very seriously in this program, so to be able to build upon that is very important to us,” team captain Nick Gargiulo ’23, who will play in his fourth game on Saturday, told the News. “It’s always a major game for us. Personally, for our senior class, as you are a part of these games you realize how special they really are. You appreciate them a lot more as you get older in this program.”

The News has combed through records detailing the 147 years of Yale–Harvard history to highlight six games that have made the biggest headlines.

1875: The “Foot Ball Match”

Yale and Harvard donned the fi rst team uniforms in an American intercollegiate football event on Nov. 13, 1875, according to Connecticut records.

The football rivalry began in an unusual fashion for the time at Hamilton Park, the fi rst home field for the Bulldogs. Using a mixture of rugby and soccer guidelines, the fi rst playing consisted of 15 players per team and established that a point was secured after each team successfully scored a touchdown and the kick afterwards.

As a prize, Yale guaranteed the Crimson $75 to play and tickets sold for 50 cents to the 2,000 spectators, according to Yale archives.

From his time at Yale to his death, Bulldog football coach Walter Camp ’81 — known as “The Father of American Football” — served on various committees that developed guidelines for the American game.

Harvard won the first game 4–0, but the Crimson did not claim another victory until 1890.

1914: Yale Bowl christening

Nearly 40 years into the rivalry and 22 victories later, the Bulldogs had outgrown their wooden, 33,000-seat home at the Yale Fields. As a replacement, Yale commissioned a stadium with nearly 70,000 seats uniquely surrounding the fi eld — the Yale Bowl.

The federal government designated the Bowl as a national landmark in 1987. Since its completion, the grounds have hosted Harvard on odd-numbered years, with few exceptions.

One year after ground was broken, the Bowl opened its doors for the 35th playing of The Game on Nov. 21, 1914. The following morning’s New York Times’ issue described the event as a “real spectacle,” which drew in a crowd of 70,000 spectators.

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Crimson player T.J. Coolidge, Jr., completed a 95-yard run — the longest run in Harvard history at the time, according to the NYT.

Harvard won 36–0. The Bulldogs claimed their next victory in 1916.

1934: Handsome Dan kidnapped — twice

On the eve of the 53rd playing of The Game, Handsome Dan II was dognapped by a group of Harvard students, according to Yale Athletics.

Morning newspapers captured a photo of Handsome Dan at the feet of John Harvard’s statue. No records included the aforementioned photograph.

Accounts of the event di er. Yale Athletics writes that Handsome Dan simply ate “‘a hamburger,’ and quite joyously, at the feet of the John Harvard’s statue.” But an archived Yale Bulletin post and a 1950 article published by The Harvard Crimson places the mascot in a more compromising position — licking the statue’s feet after being lured with hamburger grease.

The mascot had been the victim of the same crime earlier that year. The NYT ran an article on March 16, 1934 detailing the fi rst kidnapping.

“Return Handsome Dan within thirty-six hours or take the consequences,” said the Eli freshman committee, who had raised funds to purchase the mascot the previous fall. “Handsome Dan is a sick dog and the veterinarian says he may die unless he is provided with proper diet.”

Handsome Dan II died three years later after sustaining a leg fracture from a jump.

The Bulldogs began a three year winning streak in 1934 after defeating Harvard 14–0.

1968: Yale Beats Harvard 29–29

The 85th playing of The Game resulted in a 29–29 tie after Harvard miraculously scored 16 points in the last 42 seconds. On the following morning, The Harvard Crimson published the now-infamous headline “Harvard Beats Yale 29–29.”

In an article published in 2019, the Crimson detailed the story behind the headline, which inspired a documentary in 2008.

William M. “Bill” Kutik, Crimson editor in 1968, told the newspaper that even if the headline was clearly inaccurate, it “captured the emotional sense of the game.”

Kutik described the moments before the clock struck zero at the game to his fellow editors in hopes of convincing them to run the headline.

“Two half-minutes before the game ended, Yalies were unspooling rolls of toilet paper from their side of the stadium, cheering and screaming because they knew for sure that they had won the game,” Kutik told the Crimson. “And then when those unbelievable 16 points were scored in the last forty two seconds, emotionally, they all felt they had lost.”

Yale came into the game with high hopes after completing the season with a 16-game winning streak. For the fi rst time since the 1909 season, the Bulldogs and the Crimson both boasted perfect 8–0 records.

This game marked the fi nal tie in Yale-Harvard history, as rules later eliminated ties from college football by mandating an overtime period.

The Bulldogs claimed a 7–0 victory the following year.

2004: The “We Suck” prank and the airplane

During the 121st game, Harvard students graciously accepted red or white fliers from the “Harvard Pep Squad,” who ran up and down the stadium with painted faces and megaphones encouraging a crowd of 1,800 to hold up their papers. They were told the sign would read “Go Harvard.” Unbeknownst to them, the “Pep Squad” was 20 Yale students in Crimson disguise.

The crowd of Harvard students, faculty and alumni proudly held up the papers spelling “We Suck” to the rest of the stadium.

Pierson students Michael Kai ’05 and David Aulicino ’05 originally engineered the prank for the 2003 game, where they planned to tape the papers to the stadium seats. But their attempts were thwarted by security guards, who asked them to leave the premises after a pre-game bomb scare.

“It was almost sad,” Dylan Davey ’05 GRD ’13 MED ’14 told the News in a 2004 article. “There were all these grandfather and grandmother types — and they all had big smiles, saying, ‘Oh you’re so cute, I’m so glad you’re doing this.’ I felt bad for about two minutes. Then I got over it.”

According to the article, the Harvard crowd held up the sign for 4 minutes and 47 seconds before halftime. They proceeded to hold it up several more times after that — prompted by Kai and Aulicino, who “ran up and down the aisles, cheering them on.”

The prank made national headlines, but it was hardly the only one orchestrated by Yale students. The senior class hired an airplane to fly over the stadium with a sign that read “Too Many Can Tabs, Not Enough Kegs, Love, Yale ’05.” Other Bulldogs stole the Harvard fl ag as a decoy ran around the fi eld with a residential college fl ag to distract security guards.

Harvard added another victory to its four-year streak with a 35–3 win. The Bulldogs broke it in 2006 before the Crimson began a nine-year streak the following year.

2019: “Nobody Wins” Protest

As the halftime show ended, 150 people fl ocked to the fi eld at the Yale Bowl demanding that Yale and Harvard divest from fossil fuels, private prisons and Puerto Rican debt. Their banners read “Nobody Wins: Yale and Harvard are complicit in climate justice,” “Presidents Bacow and Salovey: Our future demands action now” and “This is an emergency.”

“We planned to remain there until Yale and Harvard met our demands to divest from the fossil fuel industry and cancel their holdings in predatory Puerto Rican debt,” Nora Heaphy ’21 and one of the organizers of the protest, told Grist.

Urged by the Yale and New Haven police departments, most of the protesters left the fi eld after half an hour, according to the News. But a small number of them remained and were later arrested. The protest delayed the start of the second half of the game.

The protest made national headlines and received mixed reactions throughout the media. Harvard football captain Wesley Ogsbury supported the protest in a video statement posted afterwards. U.S. Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Julian Castro — as well as U.S. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and celebrities including George Takei, Kenneth Cole and David Hogg — congratulated the protestors via Twitter.

In April 2021, Yale created new principles for divesting from fossil fuels. In September 2021, Harvard announced that it would end all investments in the fossil fuel industry.

The Game went into overtime and culminated in a 50–43 Bulldog victory.

Today

In their last game before Yale-Harvard — this past weekend — Team 149 handed Princeton their first loss of the season, moving the Bulldogs into tie for first place in the Ivy League Conference with the Tigers.

“I’m incredibly proud of Team 149,” Gargiulo said. “It is a group of hardworking, selfless individuals who have relentless pursuit in what we are trying to accomplish. We have a really talented roster.”

This Saturday, the Bulldogs will travel to Cambridge for the first time since 2016 in hopes of securing the Ivy League title in the 138th playing of The Game.

THE GAME

The Yale-Harvard game for dummies

ARIANE DE GENNARO /ILLUSTRATIONS EDITOR

BY AMELIA LOWER AND BEN RAAB STAFF AND CONTRIBUTING REPORTER

Never watched a Yale football game before? Never watched a football game in the fi rst place? Not even sure what football is?

Don’t fret. This article will prepare you with everything you need to know ahead of the 138th annual game between Yale and Harvard.

What is “The Game”?

“The Game” refers to the annual college football match between the Yale Bulldogs — also known as the Blue and White — and the Harvard Crimson. The teams fi rst met in 1875, and have met 137 times since then.

In the all-time series, Yale leads 68–61–8, but Harvard has been gaining ground in recent years. From 2007 to 2015, the Crimson won nine consecutive times. In last year’s game, Harvard won 34–31 after a fourth quarter comeback. The annual matchup is always played as both teams’ last game of the season and is considered to be one of the biggest matchups in American college football.

How has Yale’s season gone so far?

Yale started o the season with an ugly 38–14 loss against Holy Cross, one of three non-conference games on their schedule. Non-conference games are not against Ivy League schools — these games are good practice but ultimately do not matter in determining the Ivy League standings.

The Elis have since had a strong season. The Bulldogs have gone on to beat every other team on their schedule except for their loss to Penn in a close 20–13 game. After losing to Penn, the Elis bounced back against Columbia with a decisive 41–16 victory and trounced Brown with a winning score of 69–17, with their most points scored in a game since 1929.

Last week, Yale secured a crucial comeback victory against Princeton, who came into the game with a perfect Ivy League record before being beaten by the Bulldogs 24–20.

Winning against Yale would have granted Princeton the Ivy League title, but the Blue and White refused to hand them a victory. The win brought Yale to a 5–1 record in the Ivy League and kept their title hopes alive ahead of the fi nal game of the season.

What is at stake in this game?

Quite a lot. If Yale beats Harvard, which has a 4–2 conference record, the Bulldogs will automatically secure at least a share of the league championship. In the Ivy League, there are no playo s or a fi nal game to determine the winner. The championship is won by whoever fi nishes the season in fi rst place, and, in the case of a tie, it can be shared by multiple teams.

Whether or not Yale shares the championship, in this case, is determined by the result of another important game happening this weekend. Penn (4–2 Ivy) will face off against Princeton (5–1 Ivy). If Yale wins against Harvard and Princeton beats Penn, then Yale and Princeton would both finish the season with a 6–1 record and share the Ivy League title. However, if Yale wins and Penn beats Princeton, then Yale would fi nish the season with more wins than any other team, making the Bulldogs the sole Ivy League champions.

Even if the Bulldogs were to lose against Harvard, it would still be possible for them to fi nish as a co-champion if Penn were to win against Princeton. In that case, all four teams would finish the season with a conference record of 5–2, meaning the season would end in a four-way tie for fi rst place.

If Harvard beats Yale and Princeton wins their game, then Princeton would win the title, and Yale would tie with Harvard for second place in the league.

What should you be watching out for?

The Bulldogs are a very “run heavy” team, meaning they move down the fi eld by running the ball on the ground rather than throwing it through the air. Yale averages a whopping 234 rushing yards per game, the most in the Ivy League in that statistic by more than 70 yards. Yale is also the only team in the league that averages more rushing yards per game than passing yards.

The Elis are led on offense by quarterback Nolan Grooms ’24. Typically, the quarterback’s primary role is to throw the ball downfi eld to the receivers, but Grooms combines playing styles of a typical quarterback and a typical running back, averaging more than 75 rush yards per game.

Grooms is second in all of the Ivy League in total rushing yards with 682, an unusual statistic considering his primary job is to throw the ball.

Following Grooms in Ivy-wide total rushing yards are teammates, Tre Peterson ’24 and Joshua Pitsenberger ’26, with 650 and 585 yards respectively. The two running backs are both heavily relied upon throughout games. Pitsenberger was named to the watch list of the 2022 Stats Perform Jerry Rice Award, which is given to a fi rst year in FCS Division I collegiate football.

With this running back duo and Grooms’ unique play, expect Yale to run the ball a lot on offense this Saturday.

While Yale’s success this season has been primarily a result of their offensive prowess, they have also benefi ted from strong defensive play.

Linebacker Hamilton Moore ’23 is second on the team in tackles with 57 this season. The linebacker’s role is to lead the defense and call out the plays. Hamilton also has two interceptions on the season, including a one-handed interception with 36 seconds left to seal the game against Dartmouth.

Defensive lineman Clay Patterson ’24 leads the Bulldogs with six sacks — which is when a defensive player tackles the quarterback for a loss of yardage — on the season. Last year, he was listed as a watchlist player for the Buchanan National Defensive Player of the Year last year and fi nished the season as Third-Team All-American, along with being named All-Ivy First Team.

Cornerback Wande Owens ’23 leads the team in tackles with 58 this season. His role on the fi eld is to defend the wide receivers, and he will likely be lined up opposite of Harvard’s best receiver.

Last year, the Bulldogs finished the season fifth in the Ivy League.

Contact AMELIA LOWER at amelia.lower@yale.edu and BEN RAAB at ben.raab@yale.edu@yale.edu .

SPORTS PREDICTIONS

The Sports Desk at the News is proud to present our predictions for this year’s playing of The Game:

Andrew Cramer: Harvard 34–31

Hamera Shabbir: Yale 32–27

Rosie Braceras: Yale 24–17

Pranava Dhar: Yale 30–24

Henry Frech: Yale 35–28

Spencer King: Yale 31–21

Ben Raab: Yale 23–17

Nicole Rodriguez: Yale 36–29

Paloma Vigil: Yale 40–38

Peter Williams: 31–28 SERIES STATS:

First meeting: Nov. 13, 1875

Head-to-head results: Yale is 68–61–8 all-time against Harvard

National Title count: Yale 27, Harvard 13

Heisman Trophy count: Yale 2, Harvard 0

Hall of Famers: Yale 28, Harvard 20

BY ELENA UNGER CONTRIBUTING REPORTER

“You can set your bags down over there.”

You brush your hair out of your face and survey the room around you. It’s small, much smaller than you expected. Then again, this is Harvard. Your expectations were far too high.

“Thank you for letting me stay,” you say to your host, tentatively taking a seat on their sofa. They’re a random Harvard freshman your residential college assigned you to stay with for The Game. You can’t help but feel like an intruder — like you’re a friend their mom has forced them to include.

They shrug. “It’s no big deal. This time next year, I’ll probably be invading your dorm.”

You fake a laugh, just to be polite, before an awkward silence fi lls the dorm. “Hey, um, where’s your bathroom?”

“Just go out the door, then make a right. You’ll see it.”

The couch squeaks a little as you get up. You’re eager for a moment to yourself. Everything about this school feels ancient, you think, grimacing as the residue from the rusty doorknob rubs o on your fi ngers.

Your phone dings! in your pocket, so you dig it out and look at the screen. Head down, you step into the hallway— —and run right into a wall of muscle.

“Watch it,” a deep voice grumbles.

You look up into a pair of dark brown eyes. “Sorry,” you clip. He’s tall, so you have to take a step back in order to look at him properly.

The guy studies you for a moment before rolling his eyes. “You’re a Yalie. Of course.” You follow his gaze to your white knit sweater and its bold navy “Y” stitched proudly in the center. You dropped one hundred dollars on it just so you could take cute photos at The Game, and it’s the most basic Yale merch you own. It stands in stark contrast to his own polyester t-shirt. The

Flirting with the Enemy

crimson fabric hugs his Herculean frame, and the words “Harvard Athletics” stretch across his broad chest.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” you ask, defensive.

He shakes his head, and his curly brown hair fl ops back and forth. “There’s so many of you. It’s like you’re taking over our campus.”

“Someone’s got to liven it up. This place is miserable.”

He lets out a chuckle, and you cross your arms. “You’re just jealous.”

It’s your turn to laugh. “Jealous? Of red brick buildings and shitty parties? I think not.”

“Oh, please.” He leans back against the wall, eyeing you with suspicion. “Let me guess: you didn’t get accepted here, and that’s why you’re at Yale.”

“Let me guess: you’re a pre-law trust fund baby who has never had to work a day in his life,” you shoot back, raising an eyebrow. His mouth parts in surprise, and your lips turn up in a smirk. “Am I wrong?”

“Pre-med,” he stutters. “And I’m not a trust fund baby.”

“That’s what they all say.”

“At least I won’t be rooting for the losing team at The Game,” he tries again.

You can’t help but roll your eyes. “Fat chance. If Harvard wins, I’ll personally take the whole football team out to dinner.”

“I’ll take you up on that,” he replies. He spreads his arms proudly. “You’re looking at the quarterback.”

You blink at him in disbelief. “Are you serious?”

“Why would I joke when there’s a free meal on the line?” He grins mischievously. “Is this an o cial bet?”

“Uhh, I’m broke,” you reply. “I don’t have enough money to take a whole football team out — not that I’ll need to, because Yale’s gonna win, but still.”

“What about one person?” he presses. “If you’re so confi dent, let’s bet on it. Loser has to buy the other person a meal. Deal?”

Is this a date? your brain practically screams. You don’t necessarily want it to be one; it’s not like you’re attracted to this pretentious prick, but your middle school self read a few too many enemies-to-lovers fanfi ctions to not be excited at the prospect.

You stick out your hand, and he shakes it. “Deal.”

“I’ll give you my number,” he o ers. You try to ignore it, but a stubborn jolt of excitement runs through you as you hand him your phone. “I’ll text you after The Game and tell you where you’re paying for dinner.”

“We’ll see how confi dent you are when you see the scoreboard tomorrow,” you reply as he hands back your phone.

He gives a little salute before turning on his heel and walking back down the hallway. “May the better team win,” he calls back over his shoulder.

A grin spreads across your face. “Don’t worry, we will.”

By the time he pays the check at dinner the next night, the smirk has vanished from his face. “Sore loser?” you quip, fi ghting a smile.

“It was a close game,” he begrudgingly admits.

“I’d hardly call 49 to 27 a ‘close game,’” you laugh, putting on your coat. You’ve had a surprisingly good time tonight. For a Harvard guy, he’s not half bad.

“You got your dinner,” he reminds you. “There’s no need to gloat.”

“And it was delicious.” You shoot him a smile, a real one. “Thank you. This was great.”

“Where are you o to now?” he asks.

You shiver as you push open the door and step into the bitter November air. “I should start packing. My fl ight home leaves in a few hours.”

He stops walking and turns to face you. You mirror his movements and suddenly, you’re standing nose-to-nose. “Would it be crazy if I asked you to stay?”

You wait for the punchline, but it never comes. You stare back into his brown eyes, and his gaze is so intense that you know he’s not joking. “Stay in Boston?” you clarify, and he nods. Slowly, you start to shake your head. “I can’t—”

The rest of your excuse dies on your lips as he closes the distance between you both. Your lips collide, and though you know it’s wrong, something about it feels so right.

He pulls away and looks at you with a sheepish grin. “Now can you stay?”

No! your brain shouts.

Your voice disobeys. “I guess I can always change my fl ight.”

“What ever happened to that guy from Harvard?”

You glance up at your friend mid-bite. You’re sitting in the Silliman dining hall, debriefi ng after Thanksgiving break. “Who?”

“You know, the one you changed your fl ight for.” She takes a bite of her burger and chews it, pensive. “You seemed pretty serious for a few days there. Have you talked to him since?”

You shake your head immediately. “Not really. I wasn’t feeling it.”

“I’m sorry,” your friend frowns. “He sounded nice.”

You shrug. “I guess he was. I don’t know. It was fun for a night.” You lock eyes, and you give her a wink. “Besides, who wants a Harvard man anyway?”