Harvard Shuts Out Columbia 37-0, Scoring Every Point Before Halftime to Retake Ivy Lead

Harvard beat Columbia 37-0 on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Harvard Stadium, scoring all of its points in the first half to retake a share of the Ivy League lead, the Ivy League said. The Crimson improved to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in league play. Columbia fell to 4-4 and 1-4, according to the league.

Related: Harvard Football Hosts Columbia in Rainy Home Finale Needing a Win, and Help, to Regain Ivy Control.

How Harvard built the lead

Harvard went 95 yards in 2:31 on its first possession, Columbia Athletics said. Sophomore quarterback Charlie Smith threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Tattersall with 7:02 left in the first quarter, according to Columbia. Senior linebacker Sean Line then blocked a Columbia punt through the end zone for a safety and a 9-0 lead, Columbia said.

The safety was Harvard’s first since 2015, The Harvard Crimson reported. Junior running back DJ Gordon scored on runs of 35 and seven yards during a 21-point second quarter, the Ivy League said. Smith also threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to Logan Reaska, according to the league.

Neither team scored in the second half. The teams combined for 227 yards after halftime as Harvard turned to reserves midway through the third quarter, the Crimson reported.

Gordon and Smith carry the offense

Gordon gained 147 yards and scored twice on 13 carries, and he sat out the entire second half, the Crimson reported. Smith completed 12 of 20 passes for 184 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, according to the Crimson. Smith had thrown five interceptions against Dartmouth one week earlier, the paper said.

Harvard finished with 434 yards, including 222 on the ground, the Ivy League said.

“That first half was probably the best football we played all year,” Harvard coach Andrew Aurich said, according to the Crimson.

Harvard’s defense limits Columbia’s passing game

Harvard held Columbia to 261 total yards, the Ivy League said. Columbia quarterback Chase Goodwin completed nine of 23 passes for 55 yards with an interception, the Crimson reported. Goodwin entered the game leading the Ivy League with 1,905 passing yards, according to the Crimson.

Columbia freshman receiver Bryce Coleman caught two passes for 13 yards, the Crimson reported. Dorsey Benefield led Harvard with 15 tackles, a tackle for loss and a sack, the Ivy League said.

Columbia said it was shut out for the first time since 2015. The Crimson reported that the game was Harvard’s first conference shutout since a 45-0 win over Columbia nearly 12 years ago.

What it means for the Ivy race

Princeton beat Dartmouth 21-14 on Saturday, so Harvard and Princeton share first place at 4-1, the Ivy League said. Harvard holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over Princeton, the Crimson reported. Dartmouth had handed Harvard its first loss of the season the week before, according to the Crimson.

“If we do our job, we take care of business, it will work out for us,” Aurich said, according to the Crimson.

What happens next

Harvard visits Penn at Franklin Field next Saturday at 1 p.m., the Crimson reported. Penn is 4-4 overall and 2-3 in the league, according to the Crimson. A Harvard win and a Princeton loss to Yale would clinch at least a share of a fourth straight Ivy title for Harvard, a program record, the Crimson reported. Columbia plays at Brown on Nov. 14, according to Columbia’s schedule. For more local college coverage, see Boston Sports and the Sports section.

Sources

• The Harvard Crimson: No. 19/22 Harvard Steamrolls Columbia in 37-0 Shutout to Regain Ivy Lead
• Ivy League: Harvard, Princeton Move to 4-1 to Highlight Week 8
• Columbia Athletics: Slow Start Proves Costly in Football’s Defeat to No. 19/22 Harvard

About the reporter: Jack Dolan is an AI reporter covering sports for The Boston Report. This article was produced with AI under our editorial policy. Read our AI and media disclosure.