Football | October 7, 2025

Harvard Football: Harvard 59, Holy Cross 24

Another week, another blowout, this one against an in-state rival

by Dick Friedman

A football player in a red uniform runs with the ball, pursued by an opponent in a purple uniform. — **BULLOCK RUSH Harvard’s Isaiah Bullock barrels toward the goal line. The 240-pound senior running back was one of seven Crimson players to score touchdowns.** | Photograph by Aiden Shertzer/Harvard Athletics

After the Harvard football team demolished Holy Cross 59-24 last Saturday for its third straight rout, the question must be asked: are the Crimson this good, or are their opponents this weak? The answer is yes.

The victory at Fitton Field against the Crusaders brought Harvard’s 2025 record to 3-0 overall; the Crimson are 1-0 in Ivy League play. Holy Cross dropped to 0-6 overall, and the Crusaders are 0-2 in Patriot League play. Clearly Holy Cross is having a down season, but still: Harvard leaped out to a 24-0 lead, was ahead 38-3 at the half, and extended the margin to 59-10 before the Crusaders tacked on a couple of late touchdowns to make the game closer than the score might indicate.

In its three games so far this season, the Crimson have outscored their opponents 159-38. In first quarters alone, Harvard has piled up 70 points to its foes’ seven. On Saturday, the Crimson outgained the Crusaders 528 yards to 333.

“Another great first half of elite execution, which led to the game getting completely out of hand,” said Stephenson Family coach for Harvard football Andrew Aurich. Besides the deluge of points virtually ensuring victory, Aurich saw another major advantage of piling up a big early lead. “We’re heading into our game with Cornell on Friday relatively rested because our starters only played a half,” he said.

The Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) has taken notice. Harvard came into the game against Holy Cross ranked 25th in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll, and after its rout ascended to 22nd. In addition, it was at or near the top in several FCS statistical categories (see below). The Crimson also boasted the FCS National Player of the Week in senior quarterback Jaden Craig, who in the 41-7 victory over Brown completed 24 of his 31 pass attempts for 317 yards and threw for four touchdowns. Against Holy Cross, Craig only played in the first half. But if anything, he was even more chillingly efficient, going 19 for 27 for 248 yards and three touchdowns. In 2025, he has neither been sacked nor intercepted.

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Part of the reason is a staunch offensive line. The rest is Craig’s ability to get the ball out fast and still hit his receivers on the numbers. “I don’t see a better quarterback in FCS football right now,” lauded Aurich.

Craig even punted. Early in the first period, with the game scoreless, he unleashed a 49-yard boot that pinned the Crusaders at their two-yard line.

Two plays later Holy Cross fumbled; Harvard took over at the 22, and on the next play Craig floated a pass to wide-open junior tight end Logan Reaska for a touchdown. A freight train at six foot five and 260 pounds, Reaska became the first of seven Crimson players on this day to get into the end zone. Sophomore Kieran Corr kicked the extra point. Harvard 7, Holy Cross 0.

Later in the first period, Crimson junior defensive back Damien Henderson picked off a pass by Crusaders quarterback Cal Swanson. Henderson played it perfectly, lurking in the right flat, then leaping in front of the toss at the Holy Cross 42. Three Craig passes, the biggest one an 18-yard pitch to junior running back Xaviah Bascon, helped bring the ball down to the two. From there, senior Isaiah Bullock sailed through a big hole into the end zone. Corr punctuated. Harvard 14, Holy Cross 0. The Crimson was not done for the quarter. On its next series, the Crusaders went three-and-out. Ethan Moss attempted a punt. Harvard senior special teamer Riley Jenne scooted in and got a hand on it; fellow special teamer junior Ryan Mooney fell on it at the Holy Cross 27.

It took Harvard two plays to score. Craig completed a 19-yarder to junior tight end Seamus Gilmartin. Then he threw to freshman wide receiver Tafari Moe at the six. Moe stumbled his way into the end zone. Corr again did his job. Harvard 21, Holy Cross 0.

Harvard football players celebrate a touchdown as player number 16 holds the ball. — GIVE ME SOME MOE Harvard running back Tafari Moe (16) receives congratulations from senior wideout Cam Henry after scoring in the opening period. The first-year man’s first career touchdown gave the Crimson a 21-0 lead. | Photograph by Aiden Shertzer/Harvard Athletics

In the second period, the teams exchanged field goals. After a Crimson drive stalled at the Crusaders five, Corr booted a 22-yarder. Harvard 24, Holy Cross 0. Crusader back Nyeoti Punni gashed the Crimson with a 49-yard run, after which Luis Palenzuela got the Crusaders on the board with a 34-yard kick. Harvard 24, Holy Cross 3.

At the end of the half the Crimson struck twice. Craig connected with sophomore wideout Brady Blackburn, dropping the ball into the bucket for a 43-yard gain to the Crusaders 32. Five plays later, from the one, Bascon bounced off a tackle and scored. Corr converted. Harvard 31, Holy Cross 3.

After the Crusaders went three and out, the Crimson got the ball back at its 27 with 1:18 left. Craig worked the ball to the Holy Cross 13. Five seconds remained. Craig took the snap and saw Blackburn in the right corner of the end zone, double-covered. Craig found the one place the ball would fit—touchdown. Corr swung his leg. Harvard 38, Holy Cross 3.

Craig’s day was done. He was replaced by junior Dante Torres. New quarterback, same onslaught. On Harvard’s first drive of the half, the Crimson reached the Crusaders 33. After a nifty play-action fake, Torres saw Blackburn running behind the defense and hit him in stride for a score. Corr slammed it through. Harvard 45, Holy Cross 3.

To their credit, the Crusaders kept on playing. Swanson led them on a five-play, 83-yard drive that culminated in a 44-yard touchdown pass to running back Joseph Williams. Valenzuela kicked the point. Harvard 45, Holy Cross 10.

Football player lifted in celebration while holding the ball, surrounded by teammates and a referee. — POWER LIFTING Harvard’s 300-pound senior offensive lineman Aidan Kilstrom manhandles 260-pound junior tight end Logan Reaska after Reaska scored the first Crimson touchdown on a 22-yard pass from quarterback Jaden Craig.
| Photograph by Aiden Shertzer/Harvard Athletics

But on Harvard’s first play of its next series at its own 25, Torres handed the ball to Jordan Harris. The junior running back stutter-stepped past the line of scrimmage, burst into the secondary, then turned on the afterburners and took it to the house. No rest for the weary—Corr was called upon again and delivered. Harvard 52, Holy Cross 10.

It wasn’t over. On the ensuing Crusaders series, Crimson sophomore defensive back Xaden Benson plucked a Swanson pass at the Holy Cross 41 and returned it 31 yards. Four times Torres handed the ball to sophomore running back Maddux Reid. On fourth down, from the two, Reid plowed into the end zone. One last time, Corr kicked. Harvard 59, Holy Cross 10. The Crusaders scored twice in the final period, on two excellent end-zone receptions, to account for the final score.

(If you’re wondering why the Crimson are so ruthless in pursuit of points, one reason, aside from individual competitiveness, is that should Harvard make it to the FCS playoffs, margin of victory might be a determinant of seeding.)

So what does it all mean? Are these early performances a true indication, or the luck of the schedule? The jury is still out.

Tidbits

ANOTHER RIVALRY NOTCH: With its third straight win over Holy Cross, Harvard improved its record in the series to 48-26-2.

KINGS OF THE ROAD: Harvard has now won five straight road games, the longest active streak in FCS.

STATS NICE: The Crimson are second in FCS in scoring offense (53.0 points per game) and fourth in scoring defense (12.67). Harvard is third in completion percentage (71.4) and is the nation’s least penalized team, with eight flags in three games. Individually, quarterback Jaden Craig stands second nationally in completion percentage (74.6) and 11th in passing yards per game (257.67), a number that surely would have risen had Craig not sat out the second half against Holy Cross.

COMING UP: Friday night lights! The Crimson return to Harvard Stadium and to Ivy play against Cornell. Kickoff: 7 p.m. The game will be telecast nationally on ESPNU and broadcast on the radio on WBOS 92.9 FM and Bloomberg 1330 AM and 1450 AM. This season, the Big Red is 0-3 overall and 0-1 in Ivy League play. In a series that began in 1890, Harvard leads 52-34-2 and has won the last five, including the 38-20 victory last year in Ithaca, New York.

THE SCORE BY QUARTERS