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Harvard Football at Penn (Caean Couto)
Caean Couto
31
Winner Harvard HAR 8-1 , 5-1
28
Penn PEN 4-5 , 2-4
Winner
Harvard HAR
8-1 , 5-1
31
Final
28
Penn PEN
4-5 , 2-4
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
HAR Harvard 0 7 14 10 31
PEN Penn 0 14 7 7 28

Game Recap: Football |

No. 22/20 Football Rallies for 31-28 Win at Penn; Earns Share of Ivy Title

PHILADELPHIA – No. 22/20 Harvard Football nailed a 21-yard field goal as time expired to complete a 14-point third-quarter comeback to defeat Penn on Saturday at Franklin Field, 31-28. The Crimson's seventh-straight victory moved the Crimson to 8-1 on the season and 5-1 in the Ivy League, while the Quakers fell to 4-5 (2-4 Ivy).
 
With the win and Dartmouth's loss at Cornell, Harvard claimed at least a share of the 2024 Ivy League title. The championship is the Crimson's 19th in program history and the second in a row after securing the 2023 title against Penn at home. It marks the first time the Crimson has won back-to-back Ivy crowns since it 2014-15. The 2015 championship was the last in a run of three in a row. Andrew Aurich, meanwhile, is the first Harvard football head coach to win a league title in his first season.

How It Happened

  • After a scoreless first quarter, which saw both teams lose a fumble, Penn got on the scoreboard first with a 31-yard touchdown grab by Bisi Owens from Liam O'Brien with 12:39 left in the second.
  • Harvard knotted the score at 7-7 when Shane McLaughlin busted through the middle for the 4-yard rushing TD. The run capped a 14-play drive that ate up 86 yards and 6:20 on the clock.
  • Penn wasted little time in jumping ahead when O'Brien connected with Owens again, this time for a 66-yard TD reception. The 7-play drive took just 3:22 and covered 75 yards. The Quakers ultimately took their 14-7 lead into halftime.
  • On Penn's first play of the second half, Malachi Hosley rushed for 60 yards to the Harvard 15-yard line. Five plays later, O'Brien completed a 6-yard pass to Mike Fraraccio for the TD, which pushed the Quakers' lead to 21-7 with 11:56 to go in the third.
  • Harvard responded to the Penn TD with a touchdown of its own. The Crimson drove to the Penn 23 and Charles DePrima, who replaced an injured Jaden Craig in the first quarter, found Xaviah Bascon in the middle of the field and the running back weaved through the defense for the 23-yard TD. The reception and PAT got Harvard to within 21-14 with 8:01 remaining in the third.
  • Bascon found himself in the middle of things once again, leveling the score with his 9-yard rushing touchdown. The game moved to the fourth quarter with the score tied, 21-21.
  • Penn jumped in front with 12:05 to go in the fourth when O'Brien scored on a quarterback-keeper. The 4-yard rushing TD helped put the Quakers ahead, 28-21.
  • DePrima later directed a 10-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a 9-yard rushing touchdown. The TD helped tie the Quakers at 28-all with 7:00 to play.
  • On the ensuing possession, Penn drove to the Harvard 24-yard line and was lining up for a field goal with 1:55 on the clock. The Quakers, however, were whistled for a false start, setting up a 46-yard field goal that ended up being no good. From there, DePrima orchestrated a drive that ended up with Dylan Fingersh nailing a 21-yard field goal as time expired to provide the final margin. 

Team Notes

  • With today's win, Harvard…
    • Extends its season-long winning streak to seven games, which is its longest overall winning streak since the 2015 team opened 8-0.
    • Defeats Penn for a fourth straight season and improves to 53-39-2 all-time vs. the Quakers.
    • Gives Andrew Aurich his eighth win of the season, which is the most by a first-year Crimson football coach since Robert T. Fisher '12 won nine games in his inaugural campaign in 1919.
    • Improves to 8-1, matching its best 9-game start to a season (2015, 2023) since the 2014 team opened with nine straight victories.
    • Improves to 9-2 over the last two seasons as a nationally ranked team.
    • Wins for the third straight game on the road and improves to 12-4 on the road since 2021. 

Player Notes

  • Shane McLaughlin (16 attempts, 83 yards, 1 TD): Recorded his first rushing attempt since the game at Cornell… Scored his third TD of the season in the second quarter… Logged 16 rushing attempts, his most since toting the ball 22 times at Brown.
  • Cooper Barkate (11 receptions, 129 yards): Posted his sixth straight game with at least 91 yards receiving… Had at least 100 yards receiving for the fourth time in 2024… The 11 catches were a career best.
  • Xaviah Bascon (4 attempts, 14 yards, 1 TD; 1 reception, 1 TD): Had his second multi-TD game of the season and first since the New Hampshire contest… Logged his first receiving touchdown of the season in the third quarter (2nd career)… Recorded his first rushing TD since the game vs. Holy Cross… Produced his first game with at least one rushing and receiving TD.
  • Charles DePrima (13 completions, 169 yards, 1 TD; 20 attempts, 122 yards, 1 TD): Entered today having completed 5-of-7 passes this season and finished today 13-for-18… Had his first 100-yard passing day since throwing for 152 at Princeton on Oct. 21, 2023.
  • Ty Bartrum (8 tackles): Led the team in tackles… The eight tackles were tied for game-high honors.

Up Next

The nationally ranked Crimson will close out its 2024 campaign on Saturday, Nov. 23, when it plays host to Yale. The 140th playing of The Game is set for a noon ET start, with the contest airing live on ESPNU.
 
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