CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Football scored on a pick-6 eight seconds into the game and never looked back in defeating Brown in its Ivy League opener, 41-7, Saturday night at Tim Murphy Field at Harvard Stadium. With the victory, the Crimson improved to 2-0 (1-0 Ivy), while the Bears fell to 1-1 (0-1 Ivy).

How It Happened

• Dorsey Benefield and the Crimson defense set the tone early with an interception return for a touchdown eight seconds into the game. The interception was the first of the sophomore's career and the team's first pick-6 since Mitchell Gonser accomplished the feat vs. Stetson last season.
• Harvard doubled its advantage to 14-0 with 8:13 left in the first quarter when Jaden Craig connected with Dean Boyd for a 21-yard TD.  The touchdown reception was Boyd's second of the season. Both of his TDs have gone for more than 20 yards (29, 21).
• The Crimson gave up a 4-yard Brown passing touchdown when James Murphy hit Ty Pezza in the endzone. The scoring drive brought the visitors to within seven at 14-7, with 5:06 remaining in the first.
• DJ Gordon helped Harvard get the touchdown back when he scampered into the endzone from one yard out as time expired, giving the Crimson a 21-7 cushion heading into the second period. The rushing TD marked Gordon's second in as many games.
• Craig continued to push the Harvard offense down the field and put another six points on the scoreboard when he threw a 16-yard dart to Seamus Gilmartin. Kieran Corr added the extra point after Gilmartin's first TD of the season to push the hosts to a 28-7 lead with 5:47 left in the half.
• As the second quarter was nearing an end, Craig threw his third TD of the half, this time finding Cam Henry for a 44-yard touchdown. After a missed extra point, Harvard finished the first half with a 34-7 lead. Craig went into the locker room with a passing line of 18-for-21 with 228 yards and three TDs.
• After a Ty Bartrum interception put the Crimson at the Brown 42-yard line, Craig hooked up with Henry for a 35-yard gain. Four plays later, Craig found Ryan Osborne for the 1-yard TD, which was his first scoring reception of the campaign. With the touchdown, the Crimson increased its advantage to 41-7 (3^rd, 10:11), which held for the balance of the game.

Team Notes

• After scoring 41 points, Harvard is averaging 50.0 points through two games. Conversely, it is allowing opponents to just 7.0 points.
• Harvard's 100 points through its first two games is its most to open the campaign since it scored 106 in the first two games of the 1932 season. That year, the Crimson scored 66 points vs. Buffalo and 40 vs. New Hampshire.
• The Crimson is 2-0 for the first time since 2023, and the fourth time since 2021.
• Harvard has won 23 of its last 25 Ivy League openers. Twenty-two of those wins have come against Brown.
• The Crimson is 11-1 in its last 12 games during the month of September.
• Harvard avenges last year's loss to Brown and improves to 91-31-2 all-time vs. the Bears. The Crimson also won 13 straight vs. Brown at Harvard Stadium.
• The Crimson improved to 21-3 all-time in night games at Harvard Stadium.
• Attendance for tonight's game was 16,283.

Player Notes

• Jaden Craig: Completed 24-of-31 pass attempts for 317 yards and a career-high-matching four touchdowns… His passing yardage was a season high as were his 24 completions.
• DJ Gordon: Rushed 16 times for a career-high 73 yards and a touchdown.
• Caydon Coffman: Posted a career-high five catches for a personal-best 64 yards.
• Cam Henry: Had three receptions for a team- and career-high 81 yards and one touchdown… The TD was the first of his career.
• Ty Bartrum: Made five tackles, sharing team-high honors with Jack Kirkwood and Xaden Benson… Intercepted his first pass of the season and the fifth of his career.
• Austin-Jake Guillory: Recorded one interception – his first of the season and third of his career.

Up Next

Harvard returns to the gridiron next week when it plays at Holy Cross (Oct. 4, 2 p.m. ET, ESPN+).