PHILADELPHIA — Harvard safety Chris Splinter’s in-your-face defense gave Penn receiver Mitchell King just inches of wiggle room at the back of the end zone. But King got free and leaped high to snare backup quarterback Andrew Holland’s 18-yard toss for the game-breaking touchdown early in the fourth quarter on Saturday, carrying the Quakers to a 30-21 triumph at Franklin Field and command of the Ivy League race.

“That was a quality throw and a quality catch,” said Penn coach Al Bagnoli. “Their guy [the 5-foot-10-inch Splinter] was all over him [the 6-6 King]. Our guy was just more athletic than their guy.”