WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley University senior linebacker Blaine Hopwood (New Bedford/New Bedford HS) has been named the Defensive Player of the Week in the Northeast-10 Conference following his outstanding performance in Saturday's 31-0 shutout of Pace University.

Hopwood, who returned this fall after missing most of 2013 with an injury, celebrated Senior Day with eight tackles, including three for losses (19 yards) and two sacks (16 yards).  He also recovered a fumble that set up the Falcons' third touchdown of the afternoon.

The five-foot-ten, 205-pounder is second on the team in tackles, averaging eight a game. Eight of his 64 tackles have been for losses, and he has two sacks, five pass break-ups, one interception and two fumble recoveries.

Bentley's 2012 Defensive MVP and a first-team All-Conference honoree that same year, Hopwood has 238 career tackles, 32 of those resulting in losses. That's the sixth most tackles by a Falcon player who has begun his career in the last 20 years.

Two of Hopwood's teammates, graduate student Danny Guadagnoli (Framingham/Framingham HS) and sophomore linebacker Bryan Hardy (Barnstable/Barnstable HS), were also recognized by the conference with selection to the Northeast-10 Weekly Honor Roll.

Guadagnoli threw for 357 yards and three touchdowns against Pace as he completed 26 of 37 passes before exiting the game early in the fourth quarter. The touchdowns, one in each of the first three quarters, covered 47, 6 and 7 yards and gave him 60 for his career. He surpassed 8,000 career passing yards and moved into second in program history in that category with 8,2223.

Hardy posted six tackles, a half-sack, a fumble recovery and an interception as the Falcons won their second straight. The recovery came on a first-and-goal from the Bentley one, preserving the shutout.  

Bentley, 3-5 overall, will play at Assumption College Saturday at 1 pm.