Around the Ivies: Harvard, Yale are 2-0

Two Saturdays ago, the football team took a major step of success. Princeton (1-3 overall, 1-0 Ivy League) took its first Ivy League victory in over a year with a win over the Columbia Lions. With the win, the Tigers moved into an early-season tie for first place. As the team looks to continue its untarnished Ivy League record, we look at League teams that stand in their way:

Harvard (3-1, 2-0)

Princeton visits: Saturday, Oct. 22

Boasting at least seven wins in each of its last 10 seasons, Harvard may be the team to beat. The Crimson enters week five of the season with the Ivy’s top offense, averaging 389.5 yards and nearly 30 points per game. Junior quarterback Colton Chapple put up big numbers Saturday at Cornell, throwing for 414 yards and four touchdowns, while freshman running back Zach Bolden ran through highlight reels, after his performance against Lafayette two weeks ago earned him Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors.

A 2010 second-team All-Ivy selection, senior captain and linebacker Alex Gedeon leads a strong defense that has allowed an astonishing and league-best 70.5 rushing yards per game. In addition, every four-year player recruited by head coach Tim Murphy, who is currently in his 18th season, has taken home an Ivy League championship. The Crimson, which hasn’t won the title since 2008, may be due to take home a trophy in 2011.

Penn (2-2, 1-0)

Princeton visits: Saturday, Nov. 5

The winningest coach in Ivy League history, Al Bagnoli, leads the Quakers in a quest to defend their back-to-back Ivy League titles and 7-0 league record from last year. Penn features the league’s top defense, led by junior defensive lineman Brandon Copeland. Copleland posted three sacks last year, earning him first-team All-Ivy honors. Look for senior playmaker Matt Hamscher to be a key contributor this season as well. The 2010 second-team All-Ivy selection ranks second in tackles for loss this year and can contribute on both sides of the ball.

To maintain a steady offense, the Quakers need skill-position players to step up. Doing just that is Ryan Calvert, an undersized 5-foot-9-inch senior receiver, who has already more than doubled his reception total from last year and leads the Penn receiving corps with two touchdowns. But no matter who they put on the field, don’t expect this powerhouse to give up the title easily.

Yale (3-1, 2-0)

Visits Princeton: Saturday, Nov. 12

The Bulldogs showed tenacity in their 30-0 rout of Dartmouth on Saturday, completely shutting down Big Green running back and 2010 Ivy League Player of the Year Nick Schwieger. 2010 first-team All-Ivy selection, senior captain and linebacker Jordan Haynes continues to lead this run-crushing blue machine with 138 tackles over his first three seasons. Yale has demonstrated a balanced offense as well, complete with a one-two punch in running backs Alex Thomas and Mordecai Cargill, who combined for 213 yards Saturday. And just when you think you might escape on special teams, there’s senior wide-out Gio Christodoulou. Not only does he have the league’s coolest name, but Christodoulou is also a punt returning maniac. One of Princeton’s toughest opponents, Yale comes to Princeton Stadium on Nov. 12. Put it on your calendar.

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Brown (3-1, 0-1)

Princeton visits: Saturday, Oct. 15

In its sole Ivy League contest of the season, Brown suffered a painful 24-7 loss to Harvard. However, the Bears have thrived in non-conference play, led by senior captain and quarterback Kyle Newhall-Caballero. Newhall-Caballero, Brown’s only second-year captain in the last 120 years, missed seven games last season due to an injury. This year he’s back and has already put up a four-touchdown (two passing, two rushing) game in a win against the University of Rhode Island two weeks ago. The Bears got another impressive win Saturday over Holy Cross, who had previously beaten Harvard.

Dartmouth (1-3, 0-2)

Princeton visits: Saturday, Nov. 19

The Big Green posses the Ivy League’s top offensive weapon. The 2010 Ivy League Player of the Year, senior running back Nick Schwieger and Dartmouth’s offense are one and the same. In fact, the Big Green is the only Ivy League team that gains more yards per game on the ground than they do through the air.

On the other side of the ball, the Big Green defense continues to struggle. This past Saturday, for instance, they allowed Yale 269 yards rushing in an unpleasant 30-0 loss.

Cornell (2-2, 0-2)

Visits Princeton: Saturday, Oct. 29

Coming off of a rebuilding year and head coach Kent Austin’s first season, during which the Big Red went 1-6 in Ivy League play, Cornell looks to its quarterback, sophomore sensation Jeff Mathews, to stimulate offensive production. And, so far, the 2010 Ivy League Rookie of the Year has done just that, throwing for nine touchdowns in four games. During Saturday’s 41-31 shootout loss to Harvard, Matthews recorded 322 yards passing and three touchdowns, an excellent performance for any quarterback.

Although it has shown it can play with powers Harvard and Yale, Cornell will need to improve its league-worst running game if it wants to finish better than middle-of-the-pack this year.

Columbia (0-4, 0-1)

Lost to Princeton 24-21

The struggling Lions own the league’s worst defense. Columbia allows 411.8 yards and over 30 points per game. Maybe Stanley Yelnats is the one responsible for all the holes in the Lions’ front line. A bright spot for Columbia shines in junior quarterback and team captain Sean Brackett. Brackett has both a strong arm and quick legs, as he leads the Lions in both passing and rushing yards.