More and more, it feels like a special season for the Harvard Crimson.

On Saturday, Harvard defeated Penn, 31-28, with backup players filling key roles at the end.

With the win, Harvard clinches a share of the Ivy League title. If the Crimson beat Yale next week, they win the Ivy League title outright.

“Obviously, we’re all really excited,” first-year Harvard coach Andrew Aurich said. “Not surprising, because these guys have been in this position multiple times during the season. As I told them at halftime, how we practice, how we train, the emphasis we put on those time periods, it allows us to be a mentally tough team that can focus really, really hard. That’s what you need when you’re in those situations, when you’re down 14 points in the second half. I’m not surprised at all by the outcome. I fully expected because these guys are battle tested, and they trained in a way that’s going to help in games like that.”

Harvard is now 8-1 and 5-1 in the league.

With the score tied at 28, Penn missed a field goal to give Harvard the opportunity it needed. Quarterback Jaden Craig and kicker Kieran Corr were out with injuries, so backups Charles DePrima and Dylan Fingersh were thrust into this game with key roles.

DePrima worked the team down the field, and Fingersh booted the 21-yard field goal for the game winner as time ran out.

It was not a great start to the game for the Crimson. Despite a 4-yard touchdown run from Harvard’s Shane McLaughlin, Penn took a 21-7 lead early in the third quarter.

But as they did all game, the Crimson fought. With a 23-yard touchdown pass from DePrima to Xaviah Bascon, Harvard sliced the deficit in half.

Then, following 9-yard touchdown run from Bascon, Harvard tied it with 2:40 to go in the third.

Penn jumped back out to a 28-21 lead when Liam O’Brien had a 4-yard touchdown run.

Harvard continued to fight, and got right back in the game when DePrima scored on a 9-yard touchdown run with seven minutes to go.

Then the Crimson’s super subs finished it off at the end.

DePrima completed 13 of 18 passes for 169 yards and a touchdown. DePrima also had 122 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.

McLaughlin had 83 yards and a touchdown on 16 rushing attempts.

Cooper Barkate caught 11 passes for 129 yards.

Now comes The Game with Yale, for the 140th time. Harvard wins the league outright with a win, and there’s no question the Bulldogs will want to stop that.

But in Aurich’s first season, Harvard has shown toughness and resolve, and this game was a prime example of that.