In a commanding display of football, Harvard triumphed over Cornell with a decisive 34-10 victory. This game took place last Friday night at Harvard Stadium. The win improved Harvard’s overall record to 4-0 and maintained their perfect league record at 2-0. Conversely, Cornell remains winless at 0-4 and 0-2 in league play.
Key Highlights from the Game
Despite being heavily favored, Harvard faced significant challenges during the match. The score at the end of the third quarter was a narrow 17-10 in favor of the Crimson. The standout player for Harvard, quarterback Jaden Craig, had a less than stellar performance, completing 21 of 37 passes for one touchdown and recording his first interception of the season.
Harvard’s defense, however, was a critical factor in the victory, limiting Cornell to just 193 total yards. The Crimson amassed 413 yards of total offense. Defensive star Alex DeGrieck dominated with two sacks and three tackles for loss, while junior linebacker Sean Line led the team with 10 tackles.
First Half Highlights
- Early in the game, Cornell’s Ricardo Lagares Jr. fumbled a pitch, allowing Harvard’s Damien Henderson to recover and score. This marked an early touchdown for Harvard.
- Harvard’s second touchdown came following a meticulous 13-play drive, culminating in a pass from Craig to tight end Ben Alvarez.
- By halftime, Harvard led 14-0, despite missing a 45-yard field goal attempt.
Second Half Developments
In the third quarter, Harvard scored again with a 22-yard field goal by Kieran Corr, increasing the lead to 17-0. However, Cornell responded with a touchdown from Garrett Bass-Sulpizio, closing the gap to 17-7.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Cornell added a 25-yard field goal, cutting Harvard’s lead to just 17-10. A pivotal moment occurred when a controversial call nullified what appeared to be a turnover by Harvard, resulting in another field goal for the Crimson.
Final Quarter Surge
With the score 20-10, Harvard regained momentum with a rushing touchdown from Craig. A subsequent interception returned for a touchdown by Jack Donahoe sealed the game’s fate at 34-10.
Season Overview
This victory marks Harvard’s sixth consecutive win over Cornell, showing their dominance in this historic rivalry. Over the years, Harvard has maintained a strong record of 53-34-2 against Cornell.
Looking Ahead
Harvard will host Merrimack next Saturday, October 18. This matchup marks their final game against a non-Ivy opponent this season. The game is set to kick off at noon and will be available for streaming on ESPN+.
- Attendance: 6,644
- Next Game: Merrimack, October 18
