DURHAM -- University of New Hampshire football games against Harvard are rare, and UNH victories are non-existent.
UNH and Harvard have met on the football field seven times and Harvard won each of the seven meetings. The next touchdown UNH scores against Harvard will be its first, as the Wildcats scored three points in the seven losses.
The teams haven't played each other since 1939, however, so UNH fans undoubtedly consider all that ancient history. The Wildcats will be looking for better results when the teams tangle at Harvard Stadium in Boston on Friday night (7) in a game that can be seen on NESN.
"I'm excited for this," UNH coach Rick Santos said. "Obviously we haven't played in a long, long time. I've said this before, but I think it's a shame the Ivy League can't participate in the NCAA playoffs. I think the champion of that conference every single year would have an opportunity to make a deep playoff run. Usually that's Harvard."
UNH (3-1, 1-0 Coastal Athletic Association) enters Friday's game on a three-game winning streak after having last weekend off. Harvard (1-1, 0-1 Ivy League) opened its season with a 35-0 victory over Stetson, but dropped a 31-28 decision at Brown last Saturday.
Harvard wide receiver Cooper Barkate had six receptions for 90 yards and two touchdowns against Brown. He has 10 catches for 166 yards and three TDs in two games this season.
Santos called backup quarterback Charles Diprima the X-factor in the Crimson's offense because Harvard also uses him as a runner and receiver.
There's good news for UNH on the injury front. Santos said defensive tackle Jacoby Sherard and running back Isaac Seide will be good to go on Friday, and that he's hopeful safety Zedane Williams will play as well. He also said Bedford's Zach Garron is near 100 percent after missing time against Bryant with a shoulder injury.
Garron is the team's third defensive end and is used when either Josiah Silver or Flex Ruiz comes out of the game.
"I practice both sides and I'm the third man in," Garron said. "Usually when they need a breather I'm the guy who comes in. I've been having some issues with my shoulder, but I'm good.
"(Harvard) is a really good team -- a great team - and they're gonna test us on both sides of the ball. I think this is going to be a great game, but I believe we're the better team."
Garron said he sustained the shoulder injury against Stonehill and played a limited number of snaps against Bryant.
"He gives us a spark off the edge," Santos said. "He can rush the passer. He's a really tough, smart football player. Just a home-grown talent. A tough, gritty kid who we hope all the guys embrace and want to be like. He embodies what our culture is all about. How hard he works. ... We're a lot more dynamic of a defensive line when he's in there."
Friday's contest will be UNH's fourth straight game against a New England opponent. The Wildcats beat Holy Cross (21-20), Stonehill (45-6) and Bryant (38-17).
"We felt like if we wanted to accomplish our goals and play meaningful games late in the year our goal was to be the best team in New England, and this certainly is going to put that to the test," Santos said. "We have to play our best game. Our most clean game of the year. That'll be a big part of it: being efficient, limiting penalties and playing mistake free."