Harvard football moves to 2-1 with big road win Friday, Sept. 18
Coming off a tough 59-18 loss at the hands of the Elba Bluejays two weeks ago, the Harvard Cardinals looked to return to the winning track as they made the three-hour road trip to Santee High School to take on the Warriors in an afternoon clash.
Harvard did indeed get back on the right track, hitting Santee early and often to gain a 47-20 win and improve to 2-1 on the young season.
The Cardinals hit paydirt three times in the first quarter before Santee could muster up a score.
The Cardinals opened the scoring with 6:34 to go in the first quarter when Abram Jensen and Ethan Porter connected on a 40-yard pass play. Luis Aguilar booted the two-point conversion kick to give Harvard an 8-0 early lead.
Sebastian Rodriguez-Jauregui produced the next Cardinal score, running the ball into the end zone from six yards out, while Rodriguez-Jauregui and Jett Zeckser connected on a onepoint conversion pass to give Harvard a 15-0 lead with 3:14 remaining in the opening quarter.
Harvard then claimed a 21-0 lead with 1:41 to play in the first when Carson Esquitin connected with Zeckser for an 18-yard touchdown pass, with Aguilar converting the two-point kick for the 21-point lead.
Santee closed out the opening quarter with a 70-yard kickoff return for a score just nine seconds after the Cardinals’ third score of the first period.
Santee then cut the Cardinals’ lead to 21-13 with a 30yard touchdown pass to start the scoring in the second quarter.
Harvard, however, quickly rebounded and finished the second quarter with three straight passing touchdowns.
The first, coming at the 5:57 mark of the second, saw Carson Esquitin connect with Rodriguez-Jauregui on a 16-yard strike, along with another Aguilar kick to give Harvard a 27-13 lead.
One minute later, Esquitin and Zeckser connected for a 50-yard touchdown pass play with 4:56 showing on the clock. The added Esquitin- to-Zeckser conversion pass set Harvard up with a 34-13 lead.
The final score of the first half came with 4:40 to play, as Esquitin and Anthony Hernandez-Zendejas connected for a 38-yard touchdown strike, and with the added Aguilar kick, Harvard took a 40-13 lead into the halftime break.
Santee posted the lone score of the third quarter, scoring from two yards out, and following a conversion run, Harvard’s lead fell to 40-20.
The Cardinals closed out the scoring in the fourth quarter when Esquitin and Rodriguez-Jauregui connected for a 16-yard touchdown pass with 1:28 left in the game, with Reegan Kniffen running the conversion run to give Harvard a 47-20 lead and eventual win.
BYTHE NUMBERS
Harvard’s passing game totaled 270 yards, as Esquitin was 10-15 for 220 yards, while Jensen was 1-1 for 40 yards, and Rodriguez-Jauregui was 1-1 for 10 yards.
Zeckser led the receiving stat sheet for Harvard, catching two passes for 68 yards, Hernandez-Zendejas caught two passes for 56 yards, Rodriguez-Jauregui hauled in three passes for 50 yards, while Jensen brought down three catches covering 46 yards.
Rounding out the receiving for the Cardinals was Porter, making one catch for 40 yards, with Esquitin making one catch for 10 yards.
On the ground, Esquitin again led the Cardinals, running for 57 yards on seven carries. Jensen rushed for 45 yards on three carries, while Rodriguez-Jauregui covered 32 yards on four carries.
Rounding out the rushing attack was Oliver Garcia- Pair who gained 10 yards on two carries, Kniffen carried the ball twice for three yards, while Aguilar was held to negative three yards on one carry.
Tackle leaders were Jensen with nine stops, Zeckser with eight, and Rodriguez-Jauregui with six.
Zeckser and Jensen both had two sacks in the win, as the Cardinals held the Warriors to just 67 passing yards and 65 rushing yards.
Score by Quarters
Harvard................................. 21 19 0 7 -47 Santee.................................... 6 7 7 0 -20 Harvard Santee
Rush Att-Yds.......................20-144 13-65 Pass Comp-Att-Yds.......... 12-17-270 5-14-67 Total Offense.........................414 132
THISWEEK
The Cardinals return home this week to begin district play against the Silver Lake Mustangs. Silver Lake enters the game with a 1-2 record following a 48-13 win over Ansley-Litchfield this past week.
The Mustangs’ two losses came at the hands of Southwest (Bartley) 54-12, and Medicine Valley, 79-33. Kickoff in Harvard is slated for 7 p.m. between the Cardinals and Mustangs.
