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Harvard blanks Yale to gain share of Ivy title

Nov 22, 2008 - 10:43 PM CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (Ticker) -- Harvard continued its recent dominance of Yale on Saturday, blanking the Bulldogs, 10-0, in "The Game" to gain a share of their second straight Ivy League title.

Gino Gordon, who rushed for 168 yards on 39 carries, scored the game's only touchdown on a 4-yard run midway through the first half as the Crimson beat Yale for the seventh time in the last eight meetings.

Harvard (9-1, 6-1 Ivy) ended the season with an eight-game winning streak but will share the league title with Brown (7-3, 6-1). The Bears crushed Columbia, 41-10 on Saturday.

The Ivy winner is not eligible for the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

Saturday marked the 125th meeting between Yale and Harvard, who first squared off in 1875, making it the oldest rivalry in the country.

Despite Harvard's recent success, Yale still leads the series, 65-52-8.

Last year, the Crimson spoiled the Bulldogs' bid for a perfect season with a 37-6 victory in New Haven. That win gave Harvard the outright Ivy title.

Saturday's loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Yale (6-4, 4-3), which was limited to 90 total yards.

Brown beat Harvard earlier this season, prompting head coach Phil Estes to proclaim the Bears the Ivy champs.

"We won the Ivy title," Estes said. "We beat Harvard head-to-head, and its our championship."

The title is Brown's fourth Ivy League championship and is especially sweet for the seniors on the squad.

The Bears had previously captured Ivy League titles in 1976, 1999 and 2005. This year's group of 21 seniors is the first class in Brown football history to earn two Ivy League championships.

"Our seniors just made Brown football history," Estes said. "They now have two rings to put on their fingers. I couldn't be happier than I am now."

Estes has guided Brown to three Ivy League championships in his 11 years as head coach. The Bears had captured one Ivy League championship in the previous 43 years.