Final Stats

WASHINGTON - The Georgetown University football team had a late comeback, but ultimately fell to No. 19/25 Harvard University, 31-17, on Friday night at Harvard Stadium. The Hoyas fell to 3-1 overall, while the Crimson improved to 3-0.

Tim Barnes (Oradell, N.J./River Dell Regional) was 6-of-16 for 103 yards and a touchdown. Clay Norris (Charlotte, N.C./Myers Park) took over in the second quarter and finished 10-of-19 for 45 yards. Brandon Williams (Germantown, Md./Northwest) led the receivers with six catches for 101 yards while Isaac Ellsworth (Bedford, Texas/Euless Trinity) finished with 109 yards rushing and a touchdown. He contributed 203 all-purpose yards overall, including 86 yards on five kickoff returns.

The Hoya defense caused four turnovers, including interceptions in the end zone by both Blaise Brown (New Orleans, La./St. Augustine/Loomis Chaffee) and Jalen Goldwire (Plantation, Fla./Western). Jelani Williamson (Silver Spring, Md./Good Counsel) also had an interception and Hunter Kiselick (Nutley, N.J./Bergen Catholic) added a fumble recovery. David Akere (Carrollton, Texas/Hebron) had a team-high 12 tackles while Leo Loughery (Glenshaw, Pa./Central Catholic) finished with 11 and Williamson and Daniel Yankovich (Ramsey, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) each chipped in 10.

Harvard came out quickly in the first quarter, putting together drives of 80 and 70 yards to take a 14-0 lead just 6:22 into the opening frame.

After a three-and-out on its first drive, the GU offense moved into Harvard territory on its next possession. The drive stalled on the 39-yard line and Harry McCollum (Arlighton Heights, Ill./Saint Viator) punted 33 yards to pin the Crimson on their own 6-yard line. After one first down, Phil Novacki (Great Falls, Va./Langley) came up with a huge sack on a third down play, forcing a quick Harvard punt.

On the first play, from GU's 24-yard line, Barnes hit Williams on a quick out pass. Tommy Jesson (Orland, Fla./East River) put a perfect block on the defensive back that allowed Williams to sprint down the sideline untouched for the 76-yard score, cutting the deficit to 14-7.

After the defense forced a quick three-and-out, Khristian Tate (Warner Robins, Ga./Covenant Academy) blocked the Harvard punt and Matthew Apuzzi (Princeton, N.J./The Lawrenceville School) recovered the ball on the Crimson's 20-yard line.

Georgetown got down to the 12-yard line, but was stopped on fourth-and-two, giving the ball back to the Crimson. Four plays later, Harvard connected on a 75-yard touchdown pass to extend its lead back to 14, 21-7.

An 18-yard field goal, after the Hoya defense made three stops inside their own 10-yard line, gave Harvard a 24-7 lead at halftime.

It was a defensive battle in the third quarter as neither team could put together a drive. The Crimson, however, scored on the second play of the fourth quarter, converting a third-and-goal from the 10-yard line for a touchdown to take a 31-7 lead.

GU ended the scoring drought when, after Williamson's interception of the game, Henry Darmstadter (Alexandria, Va./George Mason) kicked a 43-yard field goal to cut the score to 31-10 with 3:24 left.

Following a quick three-and-out by the GU defense, Ellsworth took a handoff from Georgetown's 26-yard line and broke several tackles, taking it 74 yards for the touchdown to bring the deficit to 31-17 with 2:08 left.

Harvard recovered the onside kick and ran a minute off the clock. The Hoyas got the ball back with 1:03 left, but could not cut into the Crimson's lead anymore.

Georgetown will return to Cooper Field for a two-game homestand, beginning next Saturday, October 8. The Hoyas will welcome Princeton to the Hilltop for the final nonconference contest of the season. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on the Patriot League Network as well as Sirius XM radio.