Harvard up for early test
There is always the danger of the unknown when a new season rolls around, especially when your initial opponent already has two games under its belt. That is the case for Harvard tomorrow when San Diego (1-1) visits the Stadium to kick off the program’s 145th season.
Harvard is a perfect 6-0 all-time against teams from the Pioneer League and leads the brief series, 2-0. Yet veteran coach Tim Murphy has plenty of concerns heading into the noon opener.
“San Diego, if I’m not mistaken, won 11 FCS games a year ago. The only time they lost was in the national tournament to perennial national champion North Dakota State,” Murphy said at the weekly New England College Football Writers luncheon.
Murphy might have been a tad off with his numbers since San Diego actually went 9-3 last season. One of the wins came in the FCS playoffs, a 41-10 dismantling of Northern Arizona. San Diego lost 38-3 the following week to North Dakota State.
“It’s going to be a real challenge for our kids,” said Murphy.
In truth, the Crimson are arguably less worried about the visitors than focused on taking care of their own business in the wake of a 5-5 finish a year ago. The coup de grace was a 24-3 slap in the face by rival Yale in the season finale in New Haven. That didn’t sit well with a Harvard team eager to make amends in 2018.
“We had gone 16 years without losing more than three games so to have a .500 record was a big disappointment,’’ Murphy said. “Last year, we were a solid team but we weren’t a dominant team. We have certainly pointed that out to our players. Most of the polls didn’t have us among the top four in our league. You better be hungry. You have to do it one game at a time.’’
Under Murphy, Harvard is 17-7 on opening day and 41-14 in September.
Those stats will be tested by a Toreros team that has a quality coach in Dale Lindsey, who is 47-14 in six seasons. Lindsey also coached at New Mexico State and in the NFL with seven teams.
“Obviously we start (the season) late and we finish late and there’s a lot of enthusiasm to get in a game from our standpoint,” said Murphy.
Murphy has pointed to a team doctrine — “It’s what’s up front that counts.” To that extent, he expects both the offensive and defensive lines to be top notch. Murphy has a senior-laden offensive side anchored by guard Larry Allen Jr. (6foot-4, 285 pounds), center Ben Shoults (6-3, 285), guard Matt Jones (6-5, 290) and tackle Tim O’Brien (67, 290). Similarly, the defensive front features seniors John Pirrmann (6-4, 250), Richie Ryan (6-1, 270) and Stone Hart (6-3, 280).
Allen has been banged up during preseason and may sit out tomorrow’s game. If so, look for Jones to switch sides with sophomore Eric Wilson (6-4, 290) filling the right guard position.
The offense will be steered by incumbent sophomore Jake Smith, who won a preseason quarterback competition over senior Tom Stewart. Don’t be surprised if both see action this season.
“We’re going with Jake Smith. The biggest reason is he finished the year as number one and he finished the preseason as number one. But they’re both outstanding passers,” said Murphy.
Smith completed 97-of171 passes for 1,154 yards and five touchdowns a year ago, all while displaying a pocket elusiveness which kept fans on the edge of their seats. Smith wasn’t alone. Senior Justice Shelton-Mosley led the nation in punt return average (18.8) and punt returns for touchdowns (two). With 124 career catches, Shelton-Mosley is No. 7 alltime in receptions and No. 6 in receiving yards (1,622).