advertisement

Hampshire fights to the end

On the game's last play, Hampshire's Lorenzo Brandon ran around right end, broke a couple of tackles, and raced 15 yards into the end zone. The play made the score Harvard 43, Hampshire 12, but it illustrated how the Whip-Purs never gave up on a season filled with adversity.

Hampshire kept fighting to the end of a 1-8 season and it was appropriate that Brandon, who missed most of the year with a separated shoulder, got into the end zone on the last play.

The Whips played much better than the score indicated. They outgained the Hornets (4-5, 2-3), 265 yards to 247 and had a 16-11 first down edge, but did themselves in with mistakes.

Hampshire lost 2 fumbles on its first 3 plays from scrimmage. The Whips threw an interception and dropped a boatload of passes.

“It's tough to get a start like that,” said Hampshire coach Dan Cavanaugh. “When you start off like that, to put our defense in that position early on, with a short field, it's just hard.”

Hampshire's first two drives ended with fumbles. Harvard recovered at the Hampshire 26 both times and cashed both in for scored to lead 14-0 after one period.

The Hornets added a third score following a short Hampshire punt.

The Whips got on the board on a fourth-down pass from Chase Lundry to Nick Antonacci, but the Hornets answered right back to lead 29-6 at halftime.

Lundry passed for 102 yards and ran for 66. He completed just 7 of 26 attempts but many of the incompletions were dropped, including a sure touchdown pass in the end zone.

Antonacci added 59 yards on the ground for Hampshire.

Matt Smith scored on 3 short runs and Collin Nolen caught a pair of touchdown passes for Harvard.