Cardinals total 503 yards of total offense during 57-25 win over the Titans
It’s been a long time coming for the Harvard Cardinals football team, but after 21 straight losses, dating back to a 34-32 win over Dorchester on Sept. 15, 2023, the Cardinals found their way into the win column to open the 2026 season at Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer, crushing the Titans 57-25 Friday, Aug. 28.
The Cardinals earned the win by rushing for 346 total yards and passing for another 157, finishing with 503 yards of total offense in the 32-point blowout victory.
The two teams battled to a 12-12 tie after the first quarter, with Harvard taking a 24-18 lead at halftime.
In the second half, Harvard outscored HTRS 33-7 to secure the big win.
Sebastian Rodriguez-Jauregui had a one-yard touchdown run at the 6:38 mark of the first quarter, while Kaden Esquitin cashed in from seven yards out with 5:26 left in the opening quarter.
HTRS had a 43 yard score on the ground and a three yard score.
Tied at 12, Harvard scored twice in the second, the first on a pass from quarterback Carson Esquitin to Kaden Esquitin from 15-yards out at the 1:51 mark of the second period, with Carson Esquitin hitting Abram Jensen with just 4.8 seconds left in the first half from one yard out, giving the Cardinals the 24-18 halftime lead.
The third quarter earned Harvard a 20-7 scoring edge to claim a 44-25 lead.
Rodriguez-Jauregui scored from three yards out with just 24 seconds gone off of the third quarter clock. At the 8:42 mark of the third, Carson Esquitin hit Kaden Esquitin from 19 yards out for a score, and with the added conversion point, Harvard led 37-18 at the 8:42 mark of the quarter.
Kaden Esquitin then gave Harvard a 44-18 lead with a 48-yard touchdown run at the 6:31 mark of the third, before HTRS could muster up their lone scored of the third with a six-yard touchdown run and conversion, setting the game at 44-25.
The Cardinals closed out the big win in the fourth quarter with a 13-0 run. The Esquitin’s hooked up on a 34yard touchdown pass with 9:53 left in the game, giving Harvard a 51-25 lead.
The final score for the Cardinals came via a 27-yard pass from Jett Zeckser to Ethan Porter with 6:23 left to play, giving Harvard the 57-25 lead, and eventual win.
BY THE NUMBERS
Carson Esquitin passed for 109 total yards, completing eight of 15 passes, while Zeckser was 2-2 passing for 48 yards.
Kaden Esquitin hauled in four passes for 89 yards, Porter grabbed one completion for 27 yard, Zeckser made one catch for 17 yards, while Rodiguez-Jauregui made two catches for 15 yards, with Abram Jensen making two catches for nine yards.
Kaden Esquitin had a monster night on the ground, rushing for 174 total yards on 12 carries, and average of 14.5 yard per carry.
Trae’Vion Nelson carried three times for 60 yards, Rodriguez-Jauregui carried 12 times for 56 yards, with Carson Esquitin gaining 25 yards on three carries.
Rounding out the rushing attack for the Cardinals were Jensen with four carries and 20 yards, Oliver Garcia-Pair gained 14 yards on four carries, while Zeckser carried three times, but lost three yards in the process.
Zeckser led the tackle charts with 11 stops, Kaden Esquitin had nine tackles, Carson Esquitin made eight stops, and Luis Aguilar was in on seven stops.
Score by Quarters
Harvard.........................12 12 20 13 -57 HTRS.............................12 6 7 0 -25 Harvard
Rush Att-Yds.......................................... 41-346 Pass Comp-Att-Yds..........................10-18-157 Total Offense.............................................503
THISWEEK
Harvard will host the Elba Bluejays this Friday night at 7 p.m. The Jays come into the game after a 58-0 loss to High Plains Community last week.
