Hampshire can't hold halftime lead in loss at Harvard

Hampshire just couldn't stop Harvard and Vince Gabrys Friday night.

The Hornets' elusive tailback ran for 245 yards and 4 touchdowns as the Whip-Purs fell to Harvard, 33-20, in Big Northern East action at Dan Horne Field in Harvard.

To be sure, Hampshire slowed the Hornets down. In fact, the Whips led 20-13 at halftime after scoring twice in the final 40 seconds of the half without running an offensive play.

Cooper Smith recovered a blocked punt in the end zone. As Harvard tried to get a quick score before halftime, quarterback Zach Fiegel fumbled. Caleb Kendrick scooped it up and raced 68 yards for a score with no time left on the clock.

That gave the Whips (1-5, 0-2) the momentum going into halftime, but the second half was all Harvard. Gabrys ran for 174 yards and 3 touchdowns after the break as the Hornets' line dominated the line of scrimmage and Hampshire's defense simply wore down.

"It seems like we got worn down," said Hampshire coach Dan Cavanaugh. "In the second half, their offense was on the field too long."

Hampshire took the early lead when Ron Laramie broke through the line on third-and-1 and rambled 61 yards straight up the middle. A 2-point conversion try failed.

The lead lasted only 12 seconds as Coty Kramer returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown. Gabrys' first touchdown in the second quarter extended the lead to 13-6.

Laramie finished with 107 yards on 17 carries, but had just 14 yards after halftime. The Whips as a team had just 52 second-half yards while the Hornets (5-1, 2-0) compiled 235 second-half yards.

The cold, rainy conditions for Harvard's homecoming made it almost impossible for either team to mount much of a passing attack but the running backs were able to keep their feet for the most part. Surprisingly, Fiegel's was the only lost fumble on the night.

Gabrys had just 3 yards after the first 12 minutes, but he seemed to grow stronger as the game wore on.