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Harvard vs. Holy Cross

Saturday, September 30, 2023

Harvard beat Holy Cross 38–⁠28. It was their 54th meeting; after it, Harvard led the series 37–⁠16–⁠1.

Neutral siteHarvard8–⁠2 in 2023
38
Neutral siteHoly Cross7–⁠4 in 2023
28

Final at Polar Park, WorcesterTV: ESPN+Attendance 7,906

At kickoff
58°F, clear, wind 5 mph from the eastWeather: NOAA NCEI Integrated Surface Database; Worcester Regional Airport (KORH), 6 km from the stadium, six minutes before kickoff
Official
Paul Matt OvertonGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse

Scoring by quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Harvard14147338
Holy Cross7140728

Standouts

Player stats

Harvard

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Charles DePrima9/2015120
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Charles DePrima1689029
Shane McLaughlin2282119
Cooper Barkate21418
Isaiah Abbey41406
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Cooper Barkate573131
Tyler Neville129029
Dean Boyd126126
Shane McLaughlin119019
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Matt Hudson0001
A.J. Lopez0001
Ty Bartrum0001

Holy Cross

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Matthew Sluka15/2632043
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Matthew Sluka2083018
Jordan Fuller1036011
Tyler Purdy629014
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Jalen Coker7176274
Justin Shorter271067
Quinton Gregory240031
Jacob Petersen118018

From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.

Team stats

HarvardHoly Cross
360Total yards468
151Passing yards320
209Rushing yards148
7.6Yards per pass12.3
4.3Yards per rush4.1
20First downs19
5–⁠15Third downs3–⁠11
2–⁠3Fourth downs3–⁠5
0Turnovers5
4–⁠35Penalties3–⁠31
33:46Possession26:14

Efficiency

HarvardHoly Cross
44%Success rate44%
0.13EPA per play−0.11
1.16Explosiveness1.43
0.04Rushing EPA−0.24
0.33Passing EPA0.45
29%Passing-down success28%

From CollegeFootballData.com: each offense’s efficiency, and the havoc each defense caused. The better side of each line is bold.

Before kickoff

Our ratings going in

Our ratings (scores only)

Holy Cross 60% to win. Harvard won as Elo’s underdog.

Every drive

Holy Cross end zoneHarvard end zoneQ1 Holy CrossTouchdown, 1 playQ1 HarvardTouchdown, 8 playsQ1 Holy CrossFumble, 9 playsQ1 HarvardPunt, 3 playsQ1 HarvardTouchdown, 4 playsQ1 Holy CrossInterception, 9 playsQ2 HarvardResult not recorded, 1 playQ2 HarvardTouchdown, 9 playsQ2 Holy CrossTouchdown, 7 playsQ2 HarvardPunt, 6 playsQ2 Holy CrossResult not recorded, 3 playsQ2 Holy CrossTouchdown, 6 playsQ3 Holy CrossPunt, 3 playsQ3 HarvardTurnover on downs, 8 playsQ3 Holy CrossPunt, 6 playsQ3 HarvardTouchdown, 9 playsQ3 Holy CrossInterception, 6 playsQ3 HarvardField goal, 15 playsQ4 HarvardPunt, 3 playsQ4 Holy CrossTouchdown, 4 playsQ4 HarvardPunt, 3 playsQ4 HarvardResult not recorded, 3 playsQ4 Holy CrossFumble, 3 playsQ4 Holy CrossTurnover on downs, 5 plays
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. Holy Cross drives left to right, Harvard right to left. Our source’s drive data for this game doesn’t add up to the final score, so a score may be missing here; the scoring by quarter above is complete.
  1. Q1 Holy CrossTouchdown, 1 play, 71 yards
  2. Q1 HarvardTouchdown, 8 plays, 30 yards
  3. Q1 Holy CrossFumble, 9 plays, 41 yards
  4. Q1 HarvardPunt, 3 plays, 5 yards
  5. Q1 HarvardTouchdown, 4 plays, 72 yards
  6. Q1 Holy CrossInterception, 9 plays, 42 yards
  7. Q2 HarvardResult not recorded, 1 play, 0 yards
  8. Q2 HarvardTouchdown, 9 plays, 42 yards
  9. Q2 Holy CrossTouchdown, 7 plays, 68 yards
  10. Q2 HarvardPunt, 6 plays, 16 yards
  11. Q2 Holy CrossResult not recorded, 3 plays, −10 yards
  12. Q2 Holy CrossTouchdown, 6 plays, 68 yards
  13. Q3 Holy CrossPunt, 3 plays, −2 yards
  14. Q3 HarvardTurnover on downs, 8 plays, 40 yards
  15. Q3 Holy CrossPunt, 6 plays, 11 yards
  16. Q3 HarvardTouchdown, 9 plays, 67 yards
  17. Q3 Holy CrossInterception, 6 plays, 38 yards
  18. Q3 HarvardField goal, 15 plays, 70 yards
  19. Q4 HarvardPunt, 3 plays, 1 yard
  20. Q4 Holy CrossTouchdown, 4 plays, 81 yards
  21. Q4 HarvardPunt, 3 plays, 4 yards
  22. Q4 HarvardResult not recorded, 3 plays, 2 yards
  23. Q4 Holy CrossFumble, 3 plays, 24 yards
  24. Q4 Holy CrossTurnover on downs, 5 plays, 12 yards

Play by play

1st quarter6 drives, then Harvard 14, Holy Cross 7
Harvard Touchdown, 8 plays
15:001st & 10 at opp 33Charles Deprima run for 6 yds to the HC 27
15:002nd & 4 at opp 27Shane McLaughlin run for 6 yds to the HC 21 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at opp 21Charles Deprima run for 4 yds to the HC 17
15:002nd & 6 at opp 17Charles Deprima run for 5 yds to the HC 12
15:003rd & 1 at opp 12Shane McLaughlin run for 2 yds to the HC 10 for a 1ST down
15:001st & goal at opp 10Charles Deprima run for 2 yds to the HC 8
15:002nd & goal at opp 8pass incomplete to Tyler Neville
14:501st & 10 at own 35Daniel Porto kickoff for 60 yds , Xaviah Bascon return for 62 yds to the HC 33
11:583rd & goal at opp 8Cooper Barkate run for 8 yds for a TD (Cali Canaval KICK)Harvard 7, Holy Cross 0
Holy Cross Fumble, 9 plays
11:521st & 10 at own 35Cali Canaval kickoff for 55 yds , Tyler Purdy return for 16 yds to the HC 26
11:521st & 10 at own 26Jordan Fuller run for 1 yd to the HC 27
11:522nd & 9 at own 27pass incomplete to Jordan Fuller
11:523rd & 9 at own 27Matthew Sluka pass complete to Jalen Coker for 8 yds to the HC 35
10:274th & 1 at own 35Jordan Fuller run for 11 yds to the HC 46 for a 1ST down
10:271st & 10 at own 46Tyler Purdy run for 3 yds to the HC 49
10:272nd & 7 at own 49Holy Cross Penalty, off-side (-5 Yards) to the HARV 46
10:272nd & 2 at opp 46Tyler Purdy run for 2 yds to the HARV 44 for a 1ST down
10:271st & 10 at opp 44Matthew Sluka pass complete to Jalen Coker for 11 yds to the HARV 33 for a 1ST down
10:271st & 10 at opp 33pass incomplete to Jalen Coker
8:052nd & 10 at opp 33Matthew Sluka run for a loss of 3 yards to the HARV 36 Matthew Sluka fumbled, recovered by HARV Tyler Huenemann
Harvard Punt, 3 plays
8:051st & 10 at own 36pass incomplete to Cooper Barkate
8:052nd & 10 at own 36Shane McLaughlin run for 2 yds to the HARV 38
8:053rd & 8 at own 38Charles Deprima run for 3 yds to the HARV 41
6:394th & 5 at own 41Sebastien Tasko punt for 33 yds
Holy Cross Touchdown, 1 play
6:281st & 10 at own 26Matthew Sluka pass complete to Jalen Coker for 74 yds for a TD (Luis Palenzuela KICK)Tied at 7
Harvard Touchdown, 4 plays
6:281st & 10 at own 35Daniel Porto kickoff for 65 yds
6:281st & 10 at own 25Charles Deprima pass complete to Tyler Neville for 29 yds to the HC 46 for a 1ST down
6:281st & 10 at opp 46Shane McLaughlin run for 19 yds to the HC 27 for a 1ST down
6:281st & 10 at opp 27Shane McLaughlin run for 1 yd to the HC 26
4:482nd & 9 at opp 26Charles Deprima pass complete to Dean Boyd for 26 yds for a TD (Cali Canaval KICK)Harvard 14, Holy Cross 7
Holy Cross Interception, 9 plays
4:421st & 10 at own 35Cali Canaval kickoff for 65 yds , Maxwell Warren return for 25 yds to the HC 25
4:421st & 10 at own 25Jordan Fuller run for 1 yd to the HC 26
4:422nd & 9 at own 26Matthew Sluka pass complete to Byron Shipman for 8 yds to the HC 34
4:423rd & 1 at own 34Jordan Fuller run for 1 yd to the HC 35 for a 1ST down
4:421st & 10 at own 35Matthew Sluka sacked for a loss of 6 yards to the HC 29
4:422nd & 16 at own 29Matthew Sluka pass complete to Quinton Gregory for 31 yds to the HARV 40 for a 1ST down
4:421st & 10 at opp 40Matthew Sluka run for 1 yd to the HARV 39
4:422nd & 9 at opp 39Jordan Fuller run for 6 yds to the HARV 33
4:423rd & 3 at opp 33
2nd quarter7 drives, then Harvard 28, Holy Cross 21
Harvard Touchdown, 9 plays
15:001st & 10 at opp 45Shane McLaughlin run for 8 yds to the HC 37
15:002nd & 2 at opp 37Charles Deprima pass incomplete to Kaedyn Odermann, broken up by Stu Smith
15:003rd & 2 at opp 37Charles Deprima run for a loss of 1 yard to the HC 38
15:004th & 3 at opp 38Charles Deprima pass complete to Kaedyn Odermann for 4 yds to the HC 34 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at opp 34Shane McLaughlin run for 5 yds to the HC 29
15:002nd & 5 at opp 29Charles Deprima pass complete to Cooper Barkate for 7 yds to the HC 22 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at opp 22Charles Deprima pass complete to Shane McLaughlin for 19 yds to the HC 3 for a 1ST down
15:001st & goal at opp 3Charles Deprima pass incomplete to Tim Dowd, broken up by Donovan Comestro
14:514th & 3 at opp 33Matthew Sluka pass intercepted
Harvard Touchdown, 9 plays
10:532nd & goal at opp 3Shane McLaughlin run for 3 yds for a TD (Cali Canaval KICK)Harvard 21, Holy Cross 7
Holy Cross Touchdown, 7 plays
10:471st & 10 at own 35Cali Canaval kickoff for 64 yds , Maxwell Warren return for 28 yds to the HC 29
10:471st & 10 at own 29Tyler Purdy run for 5 yds to the HC 34
10:472nd & 5 at own 34Matthew Sluka run for 14 yds to the HC 48 for a 1ST down
10:471st & 10 at own 48Matthew Sluka run for 9 yds to the HARV 43
10:472nd & 1 at opp 43Matthew Sluka run for a loss of 8 yards to the HC 49
10:473rd & 9 at own 49Matthew Sluka run for 3 yds to the HARV 48
10:474th & 6 at opp 48Matthew Sluka pass complete to Jacob Petersen for 18 yds to the HARV 30 for a 1ST down
6:491st & 10 at opp 30Matthew Sluka pass complete to Jalen Coker for 30 yds for a TD (Luis Palenzuela KICK)Harvard 21, Holy Cross 14
Harvard Punt, 6 plays
6:471st & 10 at own 35Daniel Porto kickoff for 37 yds , Isaiah Abbey return for no gain to the HARV 28
6:471st & 10 at own 28Isaiah Abbey run for 2 yds to the HARV 30
6:472nd & 8 at own 30Isaiah Abbey run for 3 yds to the HARV 33
6:473rd & 5 at own 33Charles Deprima pass complete to Cooper Barkate for 9 yds to the HARV 42 for a 1ST down
6:471st & 10 at own 42Shane McLaughlin run for 5 yds to the HARV 47
6:472nd & 5 at own 47Shane McLaughlin run for a loss of 3 yards to the HARV 44
6:473rd & 8 at own 44pass incomplete to Cooper Barkate
3:184th & 8 at own 44Sebastien Tasko punt for 43 yds
Holy Cross Result not recorded, 3 plays
3:181st & 10 at own 13Jordan Fuller run for 5 yds to the HC 18
3:182nd & 5 at own 18Matthew Sluka run for 2 yds to the HC 20
1:463rd & 3 at own 20Aj Lopez 26 Yd Interception Return (Cali Canaval Kick)Harvard 28, Holy Cross 14
Holy Cross Touchdown, 6 plays
1:381st & 10 at own 35Cali Canaval kickoff for 64 yds , Maxwell Warren return for 28 yds to the HC 29
1:381st & 10 at own 29Matthew Sluka pass complete to Jalen Coker for 40 yds to the HARV 31 for a 1ST down
1:381st & 10 at opp 31Tyler Purdy run for 14 yds to the HARV 17 for a 1ST down
1:381st & 10 at opp 17Tyler Purdy run for 3 yds to the HARV 14
1:382nd & 7 at opp 14Matthew Sluka run for 2 yds to the HARV 12
0:373rd & 5 at opp 12Matthew Sluka run for 8 yds to the HARV 4 for a 1ST down
0:231st & goal at opp 4Matthew Sluka pass complete to Byron Shipman for 4 yds for a TD (Luis Palenzuela KICK)Harvard 28, Holy Cross 21
Harvard Result not recorded, 1 play
0:231st & 10 at own 35Daniel Porto kickoff for 40 yds
0:231st & 10 at own 25Shane McLaughlin run for 4 yds to the HARV 35
3rd quarter6 drives, then Harvard 35, Holy Cross 21
Holy Cross Punt, 3 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 35Cali Canaval kickoff for 63 yds
15:001st & 10 at own 25pass incomplete to Jalen Coker
15:002nd & 10 at own 25Matthew Sluka pass complete to Jalen Coker
15:003rd & 10 at own 25Matthew Sluka sacked for a loss of 2 yards to the HC 23
13:264th & 12 at own 23Patrick Haughney punt for 44 yds
Harvard Turnover on downs, 8 plays
13:261st & 10 at own 33Shane McLaughlin run for 4 yds to the HARV 37
13:262nd & 6 at own 37Shane McLaughlin run for 4 yds to the HARV 41
13:263rd & 2 at own 41Charles Deprima pass complete to Cooper Barkate for 7 yds to the HARV 48 for a 1ST down
13:261st & 10 at own 48Charles Deprima run for 18 yds to the HC 34 for a 1ST down
13:261st & 10 at opp 34Shane McLaughlin run for 7 yds to the HC 27
13:262nd & 3 at opp 27pass incomplete to Cooper Barkate
13:263rd & 3 at opp 27pass incomplete to Tyler Neville
10:184th & 3 at opp 27Charles Deprima pass incomplete to Tyler Neville, broken up by Curtis Harris-Lopez
Holy Cross Punt, 6 plays
10:181st & 10 at own 27Jordan Fuller run for 3 yds to the HC 30
10:182nd & 7 at own 30Jordan Fuller run for 6 yds to the HC 36
10:183rd & 1 at own 36Matthew Sluka run for 5 yds to the HC 41 for a 1ST down
10:181st & 10 at own 41Matthew Sluka run for 4 yds to the HC 45
10:182nd & 6 at own 45Matthew Sluka sacked for a loss of 7 yards to the HC 38
10:183rd & 13 at own 38pass incomplete to Byron Shipman
7:154th & 13 at own 38Patrick Haughney punt for 32 yds
Harvard Touchdown, 9 plays
7:152nd & 10 at own 30Jaden Craig run for 11 yds to the HARV 41 for a 1ST down
7:151st & 10 at own 41Charles Deprima sacked for a loss of 3 yards to the HARV 38
7:152nd & 13 at own 38Charles Deprima run for 29 yds to the HC 33 for a 1ST down
7:151st & 10 at opp 33Cooper Barkate run for 6 yds to the HC 27
7:152nd & 4 at opp 27Cooper Barkate pass incomplete to Kaedyn Odermann Holy Cross Penalty, inelgible downfield on pass (5 Yards) to the HC 32
7:152nd & 9 at opp 32Charles Deprima run for 1 yd to the HC 31
7:153rd & 8 at opp 31pass incomplete to Cooper Barkate
3:054th & 8 at opp 31Charles Deprima pass complete to Cooper Barkate for 31 yds for a TD (Cali Canaval KICK)Harvard 35, Holy Cross 21
Holy Cross Interception, 6 plays
2:571st & 10 at own 35Cali Canaval kickoff for 58 yds , Tyler Purdy return for 25 yds to the HC 32
2:571st & 10 at own 32Matthew Sluka run for 5 yds to the HARV 37 for a 1ST down Holy Cross Penalty, personal foul (-15 Yards) to the HARV 48 for a 1ST down
2:461st & 10 at opp 48Jordan Fuller run for 2 yds to the HARV 46
2:462nd & 8 at opp 46Matthew Sluka run for 3 yds to the HARV 43
2:463rd & 5 at opp 43Matthew Sluka pass incomplete to Byron Shipman, broken up by Kaleb Moody
2:464th & 5 at opp 43Matthew Sluka pass complete to Jalen Coker for 13 yds to the HARV 30 for a 1ST down
0:311st & 10 at opp 30Matthew Sluka pass intercepted
Harvard Field goal, 15 plays
0:311st & 10 at own 7Shane McLaughlin run for 5 yds to the HARV 12
Q4 15:002nd & 5 at own 12Shane McLaughlin run for 2 yds to the HARV 14
Q4 15:003rd & 3 at own 14pass incomplete to Tyler Neville
Q4 14:104th & 3 at own 14Sebastien Tasko punt for a 1ST down
Q4 14:101st & 10 at own 29Charles Deprima pass complete to Cooper Barkate for 19 yds to the HARV 48 for a 1ST down
Q4 14:101st & 10 at own 48Charles Deprima run for 9 yds to the HC 43
Q4 14:102nd & 1 at opp 43Isaiah Abbey run for 3 yds to the HC 40 for a 1ST down
Q4 14:101st & 10 at opp 40Isaiah Abbey run for 6 yds to the HC 34
Q4 14:102nd & 4 at opp 34Shane McLaughlin run for 2 yds to the HC 32
Q4 14:103rd & 2 at opp 32Jaden Craig run for 2 yds to the HC 30 for a 1ST down
Q4 14:101st & 10 at opp 30Charles Deprima run for 14 yds to the HC 16 for a 1ST down
Q4 14:101st & 10 at opp 16Charles Deprima pass incomplete to Shane McLaughlin, broken up by Frankie Monte
Q4 9:242nd & 10 at opp 16Charles Deprima run for a loss of 1 yard to the HC 17
Q4 9:243rd & 11 at opp 17Holy Cross Penalty, Defensive holding (10 Yards) to the HC 27
Q4 9:243rd & 21 at opp 27Shane McLaughlin run for 4 yds to the HC 23
Q4 7:124th & 17 at opp 23Cali Canaval 40 yd FG GOODHarvard 38, Holy Cross 21
4th quarter6 drives, then Harvard 38, Holy Cross 28
Holy Cross Fumble, 3 plays
7:061st & 10 at own 35Cali Canaval kickoff for 56 yds , Maxwell Warren return for 13 yds to the HC 48 Holy Cross Penalty, personal foul (Tyler Purdy) to the HC 11
7:061st & 10 at own 11Matthew Sluka run for 18 yds to the HC 29 for a 1ST down
7:061st & 10 at own 29Holy Cross Penalty, false start (-5 Yards) to the HC 24
7:061st & 15 at own 24Matthew Sluka run for 11 yds to the HC 35
5:502nd & 4 at own 35Matthew Sluka pass complete to Quinton Gregory for 9 yds Matthew Sluka fumbled, recovered by HARV Brandon Svets
Harvard Punt, 3 plays
5:501st & 10 at opp 44Charles Deprima run for 4 yds to the HC 40
5:502nd & 6 at opp 40Shane McLaughlin run for a loss of 2 yards to the HC 42
4:183rd & 8 at opp 42Charles Deprima run for a loss of 1 yard to the HC 43
4:124th & 9 at opp 43Sebastien Tasko punt for 27 yds
Holy Cross Touchdown, 4 plays
4:121st & 10 at own 16Matthew Sluka pass complete to Justin Shorter for 67 yds to the HARV 17 for a 1ST down
4:121st & 10 at opp 17Matthew Sluka run for 12 yds to the HARV 5 for a 1ST down
4:121st & goal at opp 5Tyler Purdy run for 2 yds to the HARV 3
3:122nd & goal at opp 3Matthew Sluka pass complete to Byron Shipman for 3 yds for a TD (Luis Palenzuela KICK)Harvard 38, Holy Cross 28
Harvard Punt, 3 plays
3:111st & 10 at own 35Daniel Porto kickoff for 9 yds , Tim Dowd return for no gain to the HC 44
3:111st & 10 at opp 44Shane McLaughlin run for 1 yd to the HC 43
3:112nd & 9 at opp 43Shane McLaughlin run for 3 yds to the HC 40
2:213rd & 6 at opp 40
2:094th & 6 at opp 40Sebastien Tasko punt for 28 yds , Jalen Coker returns for no gain to the HC 10
Holy Cross Turnover on downs, 5 plays
2:091st & 10 at own 10Matthew Sluka run for 12 yds to the HC 22 for a 1ST down
2:091st & 10 at own 22pass incomplete to Byron Shipman
1:482nd & 10 at own 22pass incomplete to Justin Shorter
1:433rd & 10 at own 22Matthew Sluka pass incomplete to Justin Shorter, broken up by Aj Lopez
1:354th & 10 at own 22Matthew Sluka pass complete to Justin Shorter for 4 yds to the HC 26
Harvard Result not recorded, 3 plays
1:281st & 10 at opp 26Charles Deprima run for a loss of 1 yard to the HC 27
1:282nd & 11 at opp 27Charles Deprima run for a loss of 1 yard to the HC 28
1:283rd & 12 at opp 28Charles Deprima run for a loss of 1 yard to the HC 28

Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com, as its scorers wrote it. The clock is the time left in the quarter; the spot is from the side of the team with the ball.

The series

Every Harvard–Holy Cross game

Harvard leads 40–⁠16–⁠1 in 57 meetings, counting the three since this game.

Recent meetings
2026Harvard 30, Holy Cross 7
2025Harvard 59, Holy Cross 24
2024Harvard 35, Holy Cross 34
2023Harvard 38, Holy Cross 28
2022Holy Cross 30, Harvard 21
2021Harvard 38, Holy Cross 13

Around this game

Harvard

Holy Cross

Ranked games that day

Every game of Week 5