CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – In their farthest trip north this season, the Stetson Hatters struggled in rainy conditions of New England, falling 35-0 to the Harvard Crimson on Saturday afternoon. The loss drops Stetson to 2-2 on the season and spoiled the first start for sophomore quarterback Trip Maxwell.
In their non-conference finale, and the Hatters' sixth-ever matchup against an Ivy League opponent, Stetson found itself in a deep hole early. Harvard jumped out to a 21-0 lead by the end of the first quarter, but Stetson's defense showed resilience, forcing a fumble that the Crimson recovered. Shortly after, sophomore linebacker Shug Bentley made a pivotal play, recovering a fumble just along the sideline to give the Hatters a glimmer of momentum.
Both teams traded blows throughout the second quarter, with neither offense able to break through until Harvard struck again in the final minute of the half, extending their lead to 28-0 at the break. In the second half, Stetson's offense couldn't find a rhythm, managing just 21 plays, as the Crimson defense stifled any comeback hopes as the game ended with Harvard securing a 35-0 victory.
Trey Clark led the Hatters' ground game with 25 yards on 11 carries, while Almari Brown chipped in with 18 yards.
Maxwell's top target was Wyatt Rogers, who hauled in five catches for 35 yards. Brown and Brayden Miller each contributed three receptions, with Miller gaining 18 yards through the air.
On defense, Bentley stood out with eight tackles, including one for a loss, and the fumble recovery. Jayden Jefferson anchored the defense with a team-high 12 tackles, one for loss, while Andrew Martin added nine tackles, eight of which were assisted.
Stetson's defense put up a strong effort, limiting Harvard to 136 rushing yards and holding them to just 25% on third-down conversions. However, the Hatters' offense was held to 101 total yards.
After the upcoming bye week, Stetson will turn its focus to conference play. The Hatters will remain on the road, heading to Minnesota for an October 5th matchup against the St. Thomas Tommies.
