University sports
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Xaviah Bascon had two 1-yard touchdown runs, Scott Woods II had 4 receptions for 93 yards – including a 65-yard TD catch-and-run – and Harvard beat New Hampshire 28-23 on Friday night.
Bascon's second TD run gave Harvard a 21-16 lead with 5:11 left within 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-7, limped off the sphere and was replaced by Charles DePrima, who passed the pass to Bascon a 1-yard run that moved the sticks. On the following 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 within the FCS Coaches' Poll, had won three straight games after a season-opening 57-3 road loss to UCF of the Big 12.
Harvard (2-1) is 8-0 all-time against the Wildcats, including a 46-0 victory within the last match between the programs – 31,002 days ago, on Nov. 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 with 5 minutes, 35 seconds remaining. After Harvard punted for the second time, Morgan hit Joey Corcoran for a 14-yard gain on fourth-and-1 from the Wildcats' 35 yards, which was followed by a 52-yard field goal by Nick Mazzie after about 12 minutes to make it 10-0 brought remaining in the primary half.
Two plays later, Craig was hit as he threw a pass on the 27 to Woods, who fended off a tackle after which raced the remaining of the best way for a 65-yard touchdown that cut Harvard's deficit to 10-7 with 11:49 left within the second quarter. The Wildcats responded with a seven-play, 64-yard drive, but needed to settle for one more field goal, a 27-yard one.
After New Hampshire didn’t convert a fourth-and-7 from near midfield, Craig connected with Cooper Barkate for a 51-yard gain that arrange a 1-yard TD run by Bascon that tied the sport The Crimson took its first lead at 14-13 with 4:08 left in the primary half.
Marcus Alexander sacked Morgan for a 10-yard loss that eventually forced a 43-yard field goal from Mazzie as time expired within the second quarter, making the rating 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 within 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.
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