CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (October 14, 2023) - Howard University football team committed a season-high three turnovers and was unable to stop Harvard (5-0) as the Bison lost to the No. 18/19 Crimson, 48-7, in a nonconference game at Harvard Stadium before 7,678 fans.
 
The Bison (2-4) fell behind early as the Crimson set the tone on their first possession, embarking on 12-play, 77-yard drive that consumed 5:21 off the clock.
 
Howard countered by driving from its own 32 to the Harvard 20. But the first of costly turnovers resulted in a fumble, following a sack of graduate quarterback Quinton Williams (Upper Marlboro, Md.) that gave the hosts possession at their own 29-yard line.
 
Using a balanced attack of running back Isaiah Abbey (16 carries for 129 yards & 3 TDs) and quarterback Charles DePrima (11-of-17 for 128 yards & 2 TDs), the Crimson began to dominate both lines of scrimmage.
 
Harvard marched 71 yards on 14 plays that used almost seven minutes and was capped off with a seven-yard touchdown pass from DePrima to Scott Woods at the 12:28 mark of the second quarter.
 
Then, the Bison gave the ball right back to Harvard when Williams was picked off, giving Harvard the ball at the Bison 30. It took the Crimson one play to up the score, 21-0, at the 11:01 mark.
 
Harvard rolled up 469 yards of total offense, 341 on the ground while limiting Howard to a season-low 274 yards of total offense.
 
Howard sophomore running back Eden James (Port St. Lucie, Fla.), who came into the game averaging 100 yards rushing per game, was held to 47 yards on 13 carries.
 
Williams completed 11-of-22 passes for 111 yards, the longest of 20 yards.
 
A number of Bison reserves got to play extended minutes with the insurmountable early lead and capitalized on their opportunities.
 
Junior running back Tony Bedell (Glen Burnie, Md.) rushed for a career-high 40 yards on six carries and the only Howard TD, the first of his career. 
 
Redshirt freshman quarterback Ja'Shawn Scroggins (Las Vegas) carried the ball seven times for 35 yards and completed 2-of-4 passes as he engineered the only scoring drive for the Bison.
 
Junior wide receiver Richie Ilarraza (Clearwater, Fla.) had another good game, finishing with four receptions for 43 yards. He has caught 11 passes in the past two games with five of his receptions resulting in first downs.
 
Defensively, defensive backs Clayton Perrin (Pflugerville, Texas) and Kenny Gallop, Jr. (Portsmouth, Va.) led all Bison tacklers with seven total tackles and sophomore linebacker Cam Dyson (Belleville, Mich.) posted a career-best six tackles.
 
GAME NOTES
 
Howard came into the game with only two turnovers through the first four games.
 
The first penalty of the game was not called until the fourth quarter and the two teams came into the game ranking among the least penalized in the FCS. They were called for a total of three, a rarity in college football.
 
Harvard was 5-of-10 on third down conversions and 5-for-5 in the Red Zone.
 
NEXT UP
 
Howard hosts Norfolk State for homecoming to begin Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play Saturday (Oct. 21) at noon inside Greene Stadium. 
 
The game will be broadcast on ESPNU with HU alum Jay 'Sky" Walker and Florida A&M alum Tiffany Greene calling the game.
 
The 1993 Howard team that finished 11-0 and Black National Champions will be honored during the game.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.