A quick look over the stats from Saturday’s football game suggests that Northeastern was very capable of beating the Crimson. And at certain points during the game, especially during the third quarter, it was painfully apparent that the Huskies were doing just that.

Northeastern totaled nearly 80 more yards of offense on the day and outgained Harvard 287 yards to 141 yards on the ground. But when the final gun sounded, the Crimson came away with a 35-20 victory.

Northeastern Coach Don Brown gave a very concise explanation of this disparity after the game.

“We gave the game away,” he said.

The Huskies, a team that has been haunted by turnovers and other mistakes all season, made a season’s worth of miscues, and the Crimson took advantage every time.

The list of Northeastern mistakes included three turnovers, at least two dropped interceptions, countless dropped passes, a missed extra point, and a botched punt.

Harvard’s first drive of the game was a microcosm of the entire day for the Huskies.

An offsides penalty that wiped out a significant loss of yardage after a botched Harvard reverse, a personal foul that negated a sack, and a 28-yard run by Crimson sophomore tight end Matt Fratto on a fake punt moved the Harvard offense into Husky territory.

Two plays later, senior quarterback Neil Rose found senior wide receiver Dan Farley for a touchdown.

Discounting the fake punt, the touchdown pass was the only successful offensive play for the Crimson on the drive. But Harvard was up 7-0, a lead that would stand up for the rest of the game.

He Could GoAll the Way

The Harvard defense turned two Northeastern miscues directly into 14 points, thanks to fumble returns for touchdowns by junior linebacker John Perry and sophomore defensive lineman Brendan McCafferty.

Perry’s 85-yard return for a score was Harvard’s first since the 1980 season.

It appeared that Northeastern was poised to pull within 21-14 as the Huskies drove to the Crimson 12 with seconds remaining in the half.

But, as Husky quarterback Logan Galli dropped back to pass, Crimson safety senior Andy Fried came unblocked and drilled him, jarring the ball loose. Perry picked it up at the 15 and went the distance untouched to put the Crimson up 28-7 and shift momentum going into the half.