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Nate Leskovec and Brandon Svets
18
Harvard HAR 8-2 , 5-2
23
Winner Yale YAL 7-3 , 5-2
Harvard HAR
8-2 , 5-2
18
Final
23
Yale YAL
7-3 , 5-2
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
HAR Harvard 0 6 0 12 18
YAL Yale 3 7 7 6 23

Game Recap: Football |

No. 19/23 Football Falls to Yale, 23-18, in 139th Playing of The Game

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – No. 19/23 Harvard Football dropped a 23-18 decision to Yale on Saturday in the 139th playing of The Game at the Yale Bowl. With the defeat, the Crimson finished the 2023 campaign with an 8-2 record (5-2 Ivy League), while the Bulldogs completed their year with a 7-3 mark (5-2 Ivy).

How It Happened

  • The first quarter moved quickly, but only featured a Yale field goal as both teams failed to gain any momentum offensively. The Bulldogs took a 3-0 lead with 1:05 left in the first period on a 33-yard boot from Jack Bosman.
  • The Bulldogs increased their lead to 10-0 with 9:12 left in the second when Nate Grooms found Ryan Lindley in the end zone for the five-yard touchdown. Yale started its drive on the Harvard 7-yard line after it blocked a Crimson punt.
  • Harvard's defense kept the Crimson in the game and none more so than after Yale blocked a second punt. After two Bulldog plays, Thor Griffith recorded a sack for a loss of 26 yards, helping give the ball back to the offense.
  • Jaden Craig connected on a 35-yard pass to Kaedyn Odermann, putting Harvard at the Yale 9. Two plays later, Craig found a wide-open Tyler Neville for the 11-yard TD. The Crimson, however, missed the extra point as the score held at 10-6 in favor of the hosts. Yale, ultimately, took its four-point advantage into the locker room.
  • Yale extended its lead to 17-6 with under five minutes to go in the third after Nathan Denney rushed for four yards into the endzone.
  • Harvard used a couple big plays – 20-yard rush by Shane McLaughlin, 28-yard end-around from Cooper Barkate – to get the ball to the Yale 10. A Craig three-yard rush ended the third quarter, putting Harvard within striking distance. When play resumed, Craig rushed for seven yards to paydirt. The Crimson's two-point try, however, failed as it trailed the Bulldogs, 17-12, with 14:57 left in regulation.
  • Harvard took its first lead of the game at 18-17 with 10:45 left in the fourth when Craig rolled to the right and found a wide-open Ledger Hatch for the seven-yard TD. Earlier in the drive, which covered 58 yards in four plays, Craig connected with Barkate on a 30-yard strike to aid in the Crimson's scoring efforts.
  • Yale regained the lead with 5:47 to go when Grooms located Pantelis for the 12-yard score. The TD put the Bulldogs up, 23-18, but Harvard would storm back.
  • On the ensuing possession, Craig completed a 17-yard pass to Barkate and followed it with a 44-yard strike to Tim Dowd. Harvard got down to the Yale 6, but could not find its way into the endzone with 3:36 left.
  • The Crimson forced a Yale punt and took over with 1:47 to go. Harvard, however, could not generate enough offense and eventually turned the ball over on downs.

Harvard Highlights

  • Harvard finished the season with an 8-2 record (5-2 Ivy League), which is its most victories since 2021 (8-2; 5-2 Ivy).
  • QB Jaden Craig finished with six rushing touchdowns in his last four games, with his one today. He also passed for two TDs today, giving him four in his last three outings.
  • TE Tyler Neville caught a touchdown pass for the first time since the Cornell game on Oct. 6. The senior finishes his 2023 season with four TDs and eight in his career.
  • DL Nate Leskovec had a season-high 2.0 sacks. He finishes with 15.0 in his career.
  • DL Thor Griffith had one sack today, giving him 3.5 on the year and 13.5 in his career.
  • LB Matt Hudson matched his career high with 12 tackles, including a game-high nine solo.
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