Late Field Goal Caps Yale Comeback, 9-7

Things changed dramatically for Yale’s Mike Murawczyk in a matter of minutes on Saturday.

His extra-point attempt that would have tied the Yale-Harvard game was blocked with 5:33 to play. Three minutes later, he was successful on a 27-yard field goal, giving the Bulldogs a 9-7 victory in the 115th game of the rivalry.

“I couldn’t have made a bigger kick,” said Murawczyk.

Yale, 6-4 overall and 5-2 in the Ivy League, fell one victory short of the conference title as Pennsylvania defeated Cornell, 35-21.

Harvard (4-6, 3-4) had a three-game winning streak ended.

“I’ve never been prouder of a team than today,” said Yale Coach Jack Siedlecki. “We went out there and made big play after big play.”

Murawczyk’s game-winning kick was set up when Harvard quarterback Rich Linden fumbled at the Crimson 15. Jeff Hockenbrock recovered for Yale.

Earlier, Linden broke a scoreless tie when he scored on a one-yard dive with 5:36 to play in the third quarter.

Yale quarterback Joe Walland completed a nine-yard pass to Derek Bentley with 5:33 left in the game, pulling the Bulldogs to 7-6. But Murawczyk’s extra-point attempt was blocked by Joe Weidle.

Harvard squandered two other scoring opportunities in the second half. Mike Giampaolo missed a 28-yard field-goal attempt in the third quarter and had a 48-yard attempt blocked by Corwynne Carruthers in the fourth.