CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Football overcame a first-quarter deficit to earn a 28-23 victory over No. 16/21 New Hampshire on Friday night at Harvard Stadium. The Crimson moved to 2-1 on the season and snapped the Wildcats' three-game winning streak in the process. UNH fell to 3-2 with the decision.

How It Happened

• The Wildcats, who forced Harvard to punt on the opening drive of the game, dented the scoreboard first with a 10-play, 82-yard drive that culminated in a 14-yard touchdown pass from Seth Morgan to Caleb Burke. UNH's 7-0 lead held through the first quarter.
• Facing a 3^rd-and-1, the Harvard defense stood tall and saw Marcus Alexander and Mitchell Gonser stuff UNH running back Issac Seide for a 3-yard loss. The play forced a New Hampshire 52-yard field-goal attempt, which Nick Mazzie successfully booted through the uprights. The kick gave the visitors a 10-0 lead just 2:19 into the second period.
• Harvard wasted little time answering the UNH field goal. Following a 10-yard rush by Charles DePrima, Jaden Craig took the next snap, moved up in the pocket, and found Scott Woods II for a 65-yard TD pass. The 2-play drive covered 75 yards in just 42 seconds.
• UNH continued to put pressure on the Harvard defense, but the hosts stopped the Wildcats on 3^rd-and-6 to force another field-goal attempt. Mazzie was true again, this time from 29 yards to take a 13-7 lead with 8:11 to go in the first half.
• Looking at a 4^th-and-7, UNH lined up to punt, but faked the attempt. The Wildcats were ultimately called for holding, giving the Crimson the ball at its own 46-yard line. Craig then located Cooper Barkate streaking down the middle of the field on first down and connected on a 51-yard pass. Two Xaviah Bascon rushes later saw the sophomore cross the goal line for the 1-yard score, putting Harvard ahead, 14-13, with 4:02 to go in the half.
• The lead changed hands with two seconds left in the first half when Mazzie put the finishing touches on a 10-play, 69-yard drive with a 43-yard field goal. The long kick put the Wildcats ahead, 16-14.
• Harvard regained the lead with 5:11 left in the third period when Bascon scampered into the endzone from one yard out. The scoring run punctuated a 10-play drive that featured a 14-yard reception by Ryan Osborne on 4^th-and-2, and a 21-yard pass from Craig to Barkate on the very next play, setting up the Crimson to take a 21-16 lead.
• After converting on 4^th-and-1 from the UNH 17-yard line, DePrima faked a handoff to Bascon and took off to his left, navigating the remaining 16 yards for the touchdown. The fourth-quarter TD, which came with 11:23 left, pushed Harvard's advantage to 28-16.
• UNH stayed within striking distance, marching down the field in 14 plays, all the way down to the Harvard 3-yard line. Then on 2^nd-and-goal, Morgan completed a short pass to Logan Tomlinson to cut the Wildcats' deficit to 28-23, with 5:54 to play.
• Harvard wound up icing the game with two clutch plays down the stretch. Facing 3^rd-and-14, Craig connected on a 15-yard pass to Seamus Gilmartin. With a new set of downs, the Crimson was forced into a 4^th-and-1 situation only to have Bascon rush for 17 yards. The running back had a clear path to the endzone, but slid well short to the UNH 15. Harvard then kneeled down three straight times to run out the clock to earn its second win of the season.

Team Notes

• With tonight's win, Harvard…
  • Improved to 8-0 all-time vs. UNH.
  • Won two straight games vs. nationally ranked teams (last: def. No. 5/6 Holy Cross, 38-28, in Worcester on Sept. 30, 2023).
  • Won its first home game vs. nationally ranked team since Oct. 30, 2015 (last: def. No. 22/22 Dartmouth, 14-13), snapping a five-game skid.
  • Responded to a loss in its previous game with a victory for the eighth straight time.
  • Won its eighth straight home game and fourth straight vs. a non-Ivy foe at Harvard Stadium.

Player Notes

• Xaviah Bascon (16 att., 66 yds., 2 TD): Recorded his first touchdown of the season in the second quarter… His first rushing TD of the night was also the first of his career… Logged his first career multi-touchdown outing… Outrushed UNH by himself (66-46)… Added 48 kickoff return yards, with a long run of 28.
• Scott Woods II (8 rec., 93 yds, 1 TD): Caught a season-long 65-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, the longest scoring play of the campaign… The 65-yard reception was the longest of his career… Set a single-game season high for receiving yards.
• Eric Little (11 tackles, 1 FR, 1 QBH): Set a career high in tackles for the second straight game (finished with seven at Brown)… Posted first career double-digit tackle game… Recovered a fumble for the first time this season in the third quarter (2^nd career).
• Austin-Jake Guillory (9 tackles): Set a single-game career high for tackles.
• Marcus Alexander (8 tackles, 1.0 sacks, 1.5 TFL): Picked up first career sack… Has 19 tackles in his last two games.
• Charles DePrima (6 att., 33 yds., 1 TD): Reached paydirt for the first time this season with his fourth-quarter, 16-yard rushing TD… Finished with 34 yards on the ground after entering the game with 33 on the season.
• Jacob Psyk (1.0 TFL, 1 FF): Forced his second career fumble in the third quarter (1^st this season).

Up Next

Harvard returns to Ivy League action on Friday, Oct. 11, when it faces Cornell on the road in a game to be televised live on ESPN2. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.