WASHINGTON (October 15, 2022) - Howard University football team fell behind by 10 in the first half, then rallied to tie the game at halftime before allowing Harvard to reel off 24 straight second half points as the Bison dropped a 41-25 decision to the Crimson in the Second Annual Truth and Service Classic at Audi Field.
 
With starting senior quarterback Quinton Williams (Upper Marlboro, Md.) out with an injury, Howard (1-5, 0-0 in the MEAC) turned to redshirt freshman Jaylon Torbert (Hollywood, Fla.), who started his first career game. Following a shaky start, the 6-foot-2 Florida native settled in and rallied his team to a 17-17 tie at the break. He finished the game with a career-high 19-of-26 for 207 yards and two TDs to go along with two interceptions.
 
"I just tried to let the game come to me," said Tolbert following the game. "I started out a little slow but as the game progressed, I became a little more comfortable. That is when we were able to finally get something going."
 
Because the Bison were unable to move the ball on their first four possessions, Harvard was able to take advantage on good field position that turned into 10 first quarter points.
 
Howard then dug in and finally found some rhythm on a nine-play, 75-yard drive, capped off by an Ian Wheeler (Houston) 12-yard TD pass from Tolbert.
 
The Crimson; however, answered with a 75-yard drive two minutes later that was set up by the first of two Tolbert interceptions.
 
Then, the Bison showed their mettle, as they have all season, by reeling off a touchdown on a Tolbert to Brennan Brown (Dallas) hookup from 14 yards, and a 45-yard Aaron Bickerton (Bonita Springs, Fla.) field goal just before the half.
 
It appeared to give Howard the momentum but the veteran Crimson team put the pressure back, going 62 yards in only four plays with Charlie Dean finding Logan Hatch from 44 yards to regain the lead at 24-17 to start the third quarter.
 
On the Bison's next possession, they were victimized by another mistake, this time a blocked punt that set up a short drive, capped by a one-yard Ainden Borguet plunge, making it 31-17 early in the third quarter.
 
Harvard (4-1) would go on to score twice more during a four-minute stretch of the fourth quarter to essentially put the game away.
 
Freshman Ja'Shawn Scroggins (Las Vegas) came off the bench to relieve Tolbert and connected on 4-of-6 passes to cap off the drive with a six-yard scamper that closed out the scoring.
 
Sophomore safety Kenny Gallop, Jr. (Portsmouth, Va.) had his best day as a Bison with a career-high 16 tackles (11 solos) while junior linebacker Christian White (Highland Springs, Va.) added 11 in a losing effort.
 
Howard opens Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) plays Saturday (Oct. 22) against Delaware State at 1 p.m. It will be homecoming and the first time that the Bison will play in Greene Stadium.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.