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Harvard football competes against Stetson at Harvard Stadium on September 21, 2024.
Dylan Goodman
0
Stetson STE 2-2 , 0-0
35
Winner Harvard HAR 1-0 , 0-0
Stetson STE
2-2 , 0-0
0
Final
35
Harvard HAR
1-0 , 0-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
STE Stetson 0 0 0 0 0
HAR Harvard 21 7 7 0 35

Game Recap: Football |

Football Blanks Stetson, 35-0, in Season Opener

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Football opened its 2024 campaign on a rainy Saturday with a 35-0 victory over Stetson at Harvard Stadium. The Crimson, which pitched a shutout on opening day for the first time since 2004, moved to 1-0 on the season, while the Hatters fell to 2-2.

How It Happened

  • The Crimson punctuated its first drive of the season with a 43-yard-TD connection from quarterback Jaden Craig to wide receiver Scott Woods II. A 15-yard rush from Xaviah Bascon set up the scoring play during a drive that covered 84 yards in seven plays.
  • Harvard stopped Stetson on the Hatters' opening possession and a botched punt gave the Crimson a short field. Starting at Stetson's 20-yard line, Woods took an end-around to the 5-yard line. Two Shane McLaughlin rushes later, Harvard took a 14-0 lead thanks to the captain's 4-yard scamper.
  • The Harvard defense came up with another big stop on Stetson's second offensive possession as Mitchell Gonser was credited with an interception after the Hatters' pass was deflected. The senior returned the pick 37 yards for a touchdown and a 21-0 lead with 8:01 left in the first quarter.
  • After quick start by the Crimson, the game went scoreless until Craig located Ryan Osborne in the endzone for the 24-yard TD with seven seconds left in the first half. Harvard carried a 28-0 lead into halftime break.
  • After Stetson missed a field goal from 35 yards, Harvard marched down the field in nine plays and finished off the 75-yard drive with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Craig to Cooper Barkate. The TD, which came with 6:44 left in the third, gave the Crimson a 35-0 lead it would not relinquish.

Team Notes

  • With today's win, Harvard…
    • Won its fourth straight season opener regardless of venue.
    • Won its 13th straight season opener at home.
    • Improved to 19-2 at home vs. non-Ivy foes since the start of 2011.
    • Won its ninth consecutive game vs. unranked non-conference opponents.
    • Won its seventh straight home game.
    • Has responded to its last seven losses with a victory (Harvard lost at Yale to end 2023).
    • Won its ninth straight game in the month of September.
    • Improved to 9-1 all-time vs. current members of the Pioneer Football League.
    • Delivered Andrew Aurich, The Thomas Stephenson Family Head Coach for Harvard Football, his first career victory.
  • Harvard's interception return for a touchdown by Mitchell Gonser was the team's first since AJ Lopez returned one at Holy Cross on Sept 30, 2023.
  • The Crimson scored 21 first-quarter points for the second consecutive season opener. Harvard opened 2023 with a 21-0 lead after 15 minutes vs. St. Thomas.
  • Harvard enjoyed a shutout in its season opener for the first time since 2004, when it defeated Holy Cross at home, 35-0, on Sept. 18, 2004.
  • Harvard blanked an opponent for the first time since Oct. 17, 2015, at Lafayette.
  • Harvard's 35-point margin of victory was its largest in a season opener since it defeated Georgetown on the road, 44-9.
  • The Crimson held Stetson to 101 yards of total offense. The Hatters totaled at least 244 yards in each of its first three games.

Player Notes

  • Jaden Craig (12 comp., 217 yds., 3 TD): Threw for two touchdowns in the first half, which matched his career high, originally set at Yale last season… Established a career-high with his third-quarter TD pass to Cooper Barkate.
  • Cooper Barkate (4 rec., 76 yds., 1 TD): Has recorded a catch in nine straight games… Caught his first touchdown of the season in the third quarter and the fourth of his career… Led the team in receiving yards and tied for the team lead in receptions.
  • Ryan Osborne (4 rec., 58 yds., 1 TD): The junior entered the season with zero career receptions, but responded with four catches in the first half, with the fourth going for his first career TD… Tied for the team lead in receptions.
  • Scott Woods II (2 rec., 51 yds., 1 TD): Scored the team's first touchdown of the season in the first quarter and the fifth of his career.
  • Shane McLaughlin (16 rush, 64 yds., 1 TD): Scored his ninth career touchdown in the first quarter and snapped a two-game TD-less streak.
  • Mitchell Gonser (7 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU): Picked off his first career pass and recorded his first career touchdown in the first quarter… Led the team in tackles.
  • Xaden Benson (1 INT): The first-year recorded his first career interception, which occurred in the fourth quarter.
  • Jacob Psyk (3 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 1 sack): Logged a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss, for a loss of 12 yards… Entered the game with 3.0 TFLs for a loss of seven yards in his career.
  • Myles Wiley (5 tackles, 2 PBU): Matched his career high with five tackles… Set a personal best with two pass breakups. 

Up Next

Harvard travels south to face Brown next Saturday, Sept. 28. Game time in Providence, Rhode Island, is slated for noon ET with the contest airing on ESPN+.
 
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