WALTHAM, Mass. – After again coming up just short, the Bentley University Falcons will make a sixth attempt at gaining win number two when they play at Southern Connecticut State University Saturday. Kickoff for the Owls' Homecoming Day game is now scheduled for 1 pm, a change from the previously-announced 12 noon.

Coach Bill Kavanaugh's team has been in every game with the five losses decided by a total of 20 points and the last three all three-point games. Most recently, the Falcons saw a fourth-quarter comeback bid denied by an interception with 70 seconds remaining in a 28-25 loss to Merrimack College Saturday afternoon.

It hasn't been an easy conference schedule for Bentley thus far. The Falcons have already faced four of the top five teams in the preseason Northeast-10 coaches' poll with the other game against the conference's most improved team, Saint Anselm.  Combined, the five NE-10 teams that the Falcons have played have a conference record of 17-8.

Bentley came up short against Merrimack, 28-25 despite a season-high four takeaways (three interceptions, one fumble recovery). The offense was unable to capitalize on any of those with three resulting in three-and-outs and the other coming with only three seconds left in the opening half.

Both teams averaged 4.9 yards per play and Bentley had possession of the ball for over 34 minutes. However, the Warriors ran 19 more plays (89-70) and had 11 more first downs (27-16) while outgaining the Falcons 434-346.

In addition to the four takeaways, the Bentley defense recorded four sacks, doubling the team's season total. That included two by junior defensive end Paul Norris (North Attleboro/North Attleboro HS). Senior corner Brad Keirstead (Waltham/Waltham HS) had two interceptions, sophomore Sam McDonald (Norfork/King Philip Reg. HS) returned a pick 70 yards late in the second quarter and senior Nick McCarthy (Winthrop/ Winthrop HS) forced a fumble that was recovered by classmate Blaine Hopwood (New Bedford/New Bedford HS).

Senior Kyle Young (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial HS) and sophomore Bryan Hardy (Barnstable/Barnstable HS) remain among the conference leaders in tackles, with 57 and 52, respectively. Young had a dozen in the Merrimack game, as did McCarthy, and Hardy's day included eight stops.

Graduate student Danny Guadagnoli (Framingham/Framingham HS) posted his ninth career 300-yard passing game while putting the ball in the air at least 40 times for the fifth straight contest. Eight different Falcons were on the receiving end of his spirals with seniors Jeff Hill (Mansfield/ Mansfield HS) and Matt Guay (North Attleboro/Xaverian Bros. HS) catching TD passes. It was the 26th for Hill, who moved into a tie for sixth on Bentley's all-time scoring list with 188 points, and the first time Guay has reached the end zone as a collegian.

Guadagnoli, who topped 8,000 yards in career total offense, leads the NE-10 in TD passes (15) and has thrown for 1,792 yards with a .599 completion percentage despite being sacked 17 times. He needs 137 yards to move past Ted Larkin and Bryant Johnson into second in Bentley history in total offense with his total currently standing at 8,053.

Hill, the NE-10 co-leader in TD receptions (6), was uncharacteristically quiet against Merrimack (his first catch didn't come until the fourth quarter) but moved closer to joining the exclusive 3,000-yard receiving club. His career total stands at 2,929, fifth amongst active Division II players. He's also just 64 yards away from reaching 3,000 in all-purpose running, a milestone only four Falcons have reached.

This season, Hill leads the Falcons with 35 catches for 553 yards and six scores. Graduate student Alex Farkes (Boston/BB&N), a former Penn State catcher who hadn't played football since 2009, follows with 23 for 276 yards.

Bentley's ground game has been quiet since producing 180 yards in the opening day victory over Mercyhurst. Sophomore Martin Bannerman (Pawtucket, R.I./La Salle Academy) leads the running backs with 233 yards and two TDs in 76 carries.

Southern Connecticut, like Bentley, is off to a 1-5 start with a first-year head coach, Tom Godek at the helm. The Owls topped Pace, 32-10, on Sept. 20 for their only victory and are coming off a 27-14 loss to crosstown rival New Haven. Similar to Bentley, they have had some disappointing losses including an overtime decision to Saint Anselm and a one-pointer to Assumption.

Defense has been a strength of the 2014 Owls with Southern amongst the NE-10 leaders in several categories, including fewest points (21.2) and yards (317.8) allowed. Opponents have only converted 31 percent of their third downs and have averaged 6.8 punts a game. Through six games, they've allowed only seven first-quarter points.

Sophomore linebacker Mike Cerisano is one of three NE-10 players averaging at least 10 tackles a game and has combined with six-six, 270-pound Zachary Williams and 265-pound Jamie Holbrook for 11.5 sacks.

On the other hand, the Owls have struggled offensively with their scoring average of 15.8 a conference low. They've been successful on just 29 percent of their third down conversions and have only seven touchdowns in 18 red zone trips.

Freshman Ray Catapano is projected to make his fifth start of the season at quarterback. He's completed 55 percent of his throws for 733 yards, three TDs and four interceptions, and is also a threat to run (294 yards). Junior Donald Thomas is Southern's leading rusher (305 yards) and senior Gary Williams is the number one receiver (22 for 248).

Bentley's 24-19 victory over Southern last November was the Falcons' fourth in the last five meetings and gave the team from Massachusetts a 10-6 advantage in the all-time series. That includes 10-point wins in each of Bentley's last two visits to Jess Dow Field, 36-26 in 2010 and 24-14 in 2012.

Bentley's final home game of the regular season will be a week from Saturday, a Parents' Day game against Pace University.

BENTLEY BRIEFS: Uncharacteristically, Bentley was penalized nine times for 90 yards against Merrimack, with four resulting in first downs.  During the first five games, the Falcons had only 17 for 164 … In last week's game, junior Michael Baron (Medfield/Roxbury Latin School) scored his 100th career point. This season, he's perfect on extra points (18-18) and six of nine on field goals … McDonald, with seven interceptions in 16 career games, ranks fifth amongst active Division II players with a 0.44 average. Two of those picks came a year ago against Southern … In that game with the Owls, Guadagnoli threw for 337 yards and two TDs, both to Hill (9 for 178) … Links to live stats and video will be available at www.bentleyfalcons.com.