Harvard Crimson Defeats Cornell Big Red 34-10 in Ivy League Matchup

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Harvard Crimson football team defeated the Cornell Big Red 34-10 on Friday, marking their fourth consecutive win of the season. The victory improved Harvard’s record to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in Ivy League play, while Cornell fell to 0-4 and 0-2 in league action.

After a tight contest, the Crimson broke away in the fourth quarter. Harvard headed into the final period with a slim 17-10 lead, following a strong defensive performance that limited Cornell to just 193 yards of total offense.

Jaden Craig, the Harvard quarterback, had a challenging game. He completed 21 of 37 passes for 218 yards, one touchdown, and his first interception of the season. “We faced adversity, and it was a very good response,” said Harvard coach Andrew Aurich.

The game started significantly in Harvard’s favor when defensive back Damien Henderson recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown on Cornell’s first drive. The Crimson took an early 7-0 lead.

Harvard continued to build momentum, scoring a second touchdown midway through the second quarter when Craig threw to tight end Ben Alvarez, extending their lead to 14-0.

Following a successful field goal by Kieran Corr in the third quarter, the Big Red retaliated with a touchdown from quarterback Garrett Bass-Sulpizio, narrowing the score to 17-7. A fourth-quarter field goal, however, brought them even closer at 17-10.

Then came the key moment for Harvard. After Cornell appeared to create a turnover, officials ruled that tight end Seamus Gilmartin did not have possession, allowing the Crimson to retain control and kick a field goal, pushing their lead to 20-10.

Harvard sealed the game with a touchdown run by Craig, followed by a 39-yard interception return for a touchdown by Jack Donahoe, giving them a dominating final score of 34-10.

Despite the win, Aurich noted areas needing improvement, stating, “There’s a lot that we have to work on—on both sides of the ball.” Junior linebacker Sean Line led Harvard’s defense with 10 tackles, while senior defensive tackle Alex DeGrieck registered two sacks and a forced fumble.

With this win, Harvard has now beaten Cornell six straight times, extending their all-time series record to 53-34-2. The Crimson will next face Merrimack on October 18 to complete their two-game homestand.