Benson's Three Interceptions Lift No. 25 Harvard Past Brown 14-10 in Ivy Opener
The short version
- No. 25 Harvard beat Brown 14-10 in the Ivy League opener on Sept. 25 in Pawtucket.
- Xaden Benson intercepted James Murphy three times, the last with 1:33 left, and recovered a fumble.
- Charlie Smith threw two first-half touchdown passes and finished 30-for-37 for 205 yards.
- Harvard is 2-0 overall and 1-0 in the Ivy League; Brown is 1-1 and 1-1.
- Brown has scored 10 points in its last six quarters and next prepares for the Governor's Cup.
Junior defensive back Xaden Benson picked off James Murphy three times, including a game-sealing interception with 1:33 left, as Harvard held off Brown in stormy Pawtucket on Sept. 25.
Xaden Benson intercepted Brown quarterback James Murphy three times, the final one with 1:33 to play, and No. 25 Harvard held on for a 14-10 win over the Bears in both teams' Ivy League opener on Friday night, Sept. 25, at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket. Stormy weather played a role throughout the contest.
The game was the 125th meeting between the programs and only the ninth home night game in Brown's history. The first of those was a 2010 home win over Harvard. The last time a Harvard player recorded three interceptions in a single game came two years earlier than this one. Benson also recovered a fumble on punt coverage with 4:41 left, capping a night he described by pointing to his smiling teammates after the win.
Harvard built a 14-0 lead on two touchdown passes from Charlie Smith. He connected with Ryan Tattersall on a 5-yard score with 5:07 remaining in the first quarter after an early Brown turnover, then hit Teigan Pelletier from 4 yards out with 3:44 left in the first half. Smith absorbed a big hit from blitzing Tommy Dunn on the fourth-down play but still delivered the throw. Kieran Corr added both extra points.
Brown got on the board late in the third quarter when Drew Crabtree hit a career-long 48-yard field goal, making it 14-3. Early in the fourth, Corr missed a 42-yard field goal wide left with 11:48 to play, keeping the door open. Murphy then found Matt Childs on a third-down pass across the middle, and Jackson Bennett broke a 29-yard touchdown run around left end with 8:16 left to cut the deficit to 14-10 in front of an announced crowd of 8,065.
Brown's defense forced a late opportunity. Nathan Marsh's sack forced a fumble that Harvard offensive lineman Enzo Agostini recovered inside his own 30, but the ensuing punt bounced off a Bears player and was recovered by Benson. Later, Kalyl Lindsey broke up a pass on fourth down, and Harvard declined a field goal attempt after Corr had missed from similar distance earlier. Instead the Crimson dropped into coverage, and Murphy's throw to his left with 1:33 remaining was intercepted by a diving Benson in front of the intended receiver.
Smith finished 30-for-37 passing for 205 yards and one interception, saying the conditions were not as bad as expected and that the team had prepared for them. Murphy completed 18 of 24 passes for 121 yards and three interceptions. Two earlier Murphy throws, one over the head of Jadon Garza-Pender and another high and behind Trevor Foley, stalled potential Brown scoring chances. The Bears managed just 93 total yards in the first half before finding some rhythm, with Childs recording eight of his 18 touches during the third-quarter stretch.
Harvard improved to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in Ivy League play, while Brown fell to 1-1 and 1-1. Brown's defense has allowed 24 points combined against Harvard and New Haven, far fewer than the 41 it gave up in last season's loss at Harvard. The Bears' offense has scored just 10 points over its last six quarters and is still waiting for its first touchdown pass of 2026.
Brown coach James Perry said the team needs to take better care of the ball so it can capitalize when the offense finds rhythm, and credited Harvard for playing well. He added that his group played hard for most of the game and that the focus turns to preparing over the next eight days for the Governor's Cup. Harvard coach Andrew Aurich praised his team's resiliency.
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