WALTHAM, Mass. – When senior corner Brad Keirstead (Waltham/Waltham HS) intercepted a pass with 1:17 to play, it appeared Bentley University was headed towards a Homecoming Day win over the University of New Haven.

However, the Chargers forced a three-and-out and regained possession of the ball at their own 18 with only 54 seconds left and no time outs remaining.

New Haven senior QB Joey Bradley (Issaquah, Wash.) managed to run 10 plays in that short time frame, the last a 19-yard completion to an open Ty Headen (Newark, N.J.) in the end zone, turning a 35-31 deficit into a 37-35 lead with 1.3 seconds left. Sophomore Brian Roberts (Amherst, N.Y.) added the extra point to complete the stunning 38-35 win, shocking a large throng of Bentley followers.

That game-winning pass, which produced the tenth lead-change of the afternoon, was Bradley's second fourth-down conversion on the drive. Earlier, he teamed up with Headen for ten yards on a fourth-and-two from the Bentley 35. During the final minute, Bradley was six for eight for 82 yards.

Spoiled with that last minute drive was an outstanding afternoon for Bentley QB Danny Guadagnoli (Framingham/Framingham HS), who threw for 485 yards and five touchdowns, matching his career high. The graduate student completed 28 of 42 passes while moving to within 31 yards of 7,000 for his career. Each of his scoring strikes gave the Falcons a four-point lead at the time.

Both quarterbacks threw a TD pass in the opening quarter. After an opening field goal by the visitors, Guadagnoli teamed up with senior Jeff Hill (Mansfield/Mansfield HS) on a 69-yarder down the left sideline. Bradley came back to connect with senior DeeJay White (Brooklyn, N.Y.) on a 39-yarder, putting UNH back in front, 10-7.

There were three touchdowns in the final four minutes of the second quarter, sending Bentley into the break up four, 21-17. Guadagnoli avoided a sack, found senior Jet Kollie (Lowell/New Hampton School) and Kollie made a great run for a 27-yard TD. The Chargers answered with a seven-play, 74-yard drive that produced a go-ahead two-yard TD run by sophomore Andre Anderson (New Haven, Conn.) with 1:04 to play.

Guadaganoli executed the two-minute drill to perfection, directing the Falcons on a 78-yard, six-play drive that culminated with Hill on the receiving end of a three-yard scoring strike with 2.6 seconds left until intermission.

The third quarter saw both signal-callers throw a 16-yard TD pass. Bradley put his team back in front when he paired up with junior Henry Adegunie (Rockaway, N.Y.) with 6:26 left and Guadagnoli followed with an 81-yard drive that took 5:42 and was finished by sophomore Sean Myers (Foxboro/ Roxbury Latin HS).

Bentley's second turnover of the game gave the ball back to New Haven early in the fourth and the Chargers took advantage. They converted a pair of third-and-long passes and Anderson capped the 11-play drive with a one-yard run.

Down three with 9:01 to play, Bentley came right back with a nine-play scoring drive. Guadagnoli hit grad student Alex Farkes (Boston/BB&N School) on a third-and-two from the 19, and Farkes muscled his way into the end zone from about the ten-yard line.

Two plays later, Bentley senior linebacker Evan Mattern (San Diego, Calif./Rancho Bernardo HS) came up with the Falcons' first of two interceptions in the final 4:10. That possession ended with a blocked field goal, resulting in New Haven regaining the ball. After a third-down conversion, Bradley was picked off by Keirstead and Bentley had the ball back.  However, three short running plays and a punt followed, setting the stage for Bradley's final minute heroics.

Farkes and Hill both had 100-yard receiving games for the Falcons with the former setting career-bests with six for 112 and Hill finishing six for 105. Nine different Bentley players caught passes, all with at least one for 12 or more yards and seven with a long of 23 or better. Sophomore Martin Bannerman (Pawtucket, R.I./La Salle Academy) had a busy day running the ball, finishing 21 for 61 yards.

Bradley threw for 315 yards and three scores as he completed 30 of 46 passes. Headen led the UNH receivers with eight for 83 yards.

Sophomore linebacker Bryan Hardy (Barnstable/Barnstable HS) led the Bentley defense with 11 tackles and senior linebacker Blaine Hopwood (New Bedford/New Bedford HS) followed with nine.

Both teams finished with 76 plays from scrimmage with Bentley outgaining the Chargers 553-438. Each turned it over twice, the Falcons controlled the ball for 33:48, and UNH had a 26-24 edge in first downs.

The result left both clubs with 1-3 overall records with New Haven 1-2 in NE-10 action and Bentley still looking for its first conference victory.

Next Saturday, Bentley will be on the road, taking on NE-10 defending champion and co-leader American International on the road at 1 pm.