Harvard 28-23 New Hampshire (Oct. 4, 2024) Game Recap

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Xaviah Bascon had two 1-yard touchdown runs, Scott Woods II had four receptions for 93 yards – including a 65-yard TD catch-and-run – and Harvard beat New Hampshire 28 on Friday night :23.

Bascon's second TD run gave Harvard a 21-16 lead with 5:11 left in the third quarter. The Wildcats went three-and-out on their next two possessions before Harvard quarterback Jaden Craig scored a 6-yard gain on third-and-seven, limped off the field and was replaced by Charles DePrima, who ran for a pass to Bascon passed 1-yard run that moved the sticks. On the next play, DePrima pulled away on a zone read and ran around left end for a 16-yard TD run, making it a 12-point game with 11:15 to play.

New Hampshire (3-2), ranked No. 16 in the FCS Coaches' Poll, had won three straight games after a 57-3 road loss to start the season against UCF of the Big 12.

Harvard (2-1) is 8-0 all-time against the Wildcats, including a 46-0 victory in the last match between the programs – 31,002 days ago, on November 18, 1939.

Seth Morgan threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Burke, capping a 10-play, 82-yard drive on New Hampshire's first possession, which lasted 5 minutes, 35 seconds after halftime. After Harvard punted for the second time, Morgan hit Joey Corcoran for a 14-yard gain on fourth-and-1 from the Wildcats 35, which set up a 52-yard field goal by Nick Mazzie, making it 10-1 with about 12 minutes left. 0 increased in the first half.

Two plays later, Craig was hit as he threw a pass at the 27 to Woods, who fended off a tackle and then raced the rest of the way for a 65-yard touchdown that cut Harvard's deficit to 10-7 with 11:49 left in the second quarter. The Wildcats responded with a seven-play, 64-yard drive, but had to settle for another field goal, a 27-yard one.

After New Hampshire failed to convert a fourth-and-7 from near midfield, Craig connected with Cooper Barkate for a 51-yard gain that set up a 1-yard TD run by Bascon that tied the game The Crimson took its first lead at 14-13 with 4:08 left in the first half.

Marcus Alexander sacked Morgan for a 10-yard loss that eventually forced a 43-yard field goal from Mazzie as time expired in the second quarter, making the score 16-14.

Logan Tomlinson scored on a 3-yard catch-and-run that cut New Hampshire's deficit to 28-23 with 5:54 left.

The Wildcats have lost six straight road games after a bye and are 4-9 overall after a bye in the last 10 seasons.

Harvard has won two straight games against national-level opponents. The Crimson defeated then-No. 5 Holy Cross 38-28 last season at Polar Park, home of the Boston Red Sox Triple-A affiliate Worcester WooSox.

—— Get poll alerts and AP Top 25 updates throughout the season. Sign up here. AP College Football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football