Nate Bailey dives to the pylon after Hail Mary lateral as Harvard beats Colgate 20-17

Nate Bailey sprinted around the edge of Colgate’s prevent defense and dove into the left pylon as time expired, finishing a Hail Mary lateral that gave Harvard a 20-17 win.

The first-year wide receiver already owned the night before that final sprint, finishing with 16 receptions for 197 yards, a school freshman record and the second-most catches in Harvard single-game history.

Colgate had taken a 17-14 lead on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Jake Stearney to Matt Fogler with 27 seconds left Saturday night at Harvard Stadium in Cambridge, Mass. Harvard got the ball at its own 25-yard line and drove 75 yards.

Charlie Smith completed two passes to Bailey to move into range for a field goal that would have been a program long-distance record. A false start penalty pushed the Crimson back and wiped out the kick attempt.

With four seconds left, Smith heaved a deep pass. Teigan Pelletier caught it at the six-yard line, eight yards short of the end zone near the left hashmark, and was held up in the grasp of Colgate defenders. Pelletier pitched the lateral back to Bailey, who ran left for the score.

Smith finished 31-for-45 for 369 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, career highs in completions and yards.