WALTHAM, Mass. – Sophomore running back Martin Bannerman (Pawtucket, R.I./La Salle Academy) vaulted into the end zone on Bentley University's eighth play of the second overtime to give the Falcons a rain-soaked 30-24 win over Assumption College in Northeast-10 Conference football Saturday afternoon at the Multi-Sport Stadium.

The win was the third straight for the Falcons (4-5, 3-5 NE-10) and their first in overtime in 18 years. Assumption saw its four-game winning streak come to an end with the Hounds falling to 5-4 (5-3 conference).

After an interception by senior linebacker Blaine Hopwood (New Bedford/New Bedford HS) ended Assumption's possession in the second OT, Bentley kept it on the ground, meticulously moving the ball towards the end zone with Bannerman and junior George Craan (Hyde Park/Concord-Carlisle HS) sharing the work load.

Craan, who posted his first career 100-yard game (finishing with 112 on 28 carries), picked up a first down at the 14 with runs of five, four and two yards. Bannerman took over for the next two, taking it to the six. After Craan gained a total of four yards on the next two plays, Bannerman send the Bentley bench into a frenzy as he went up and over for the score.

Both teams scored during the first extra period. Bentley struck first, a 25-yard TD pass from grad student Danny Guadagnoli (Framingham/Framingham HS) to senior wide receiver Jeff Hill (Mansfield/ Mansfield HS) on the very first play. That TD, the 23rd of the year for Guadagnoli , put  the Falcon QB over 9,000 yards in career total offense.

Assumption answered with a 23-yard scoring pass from junior Trevor Vasey (Cumberland, R.I.)  to senior Matt Heriveaux (Everett) on a third-and-eight, sending the game into a second OT. That was only the second third-down conversion for the Hounds all afternoon.

With the game tied at 10 entering the fourth, Bentley reclaimed the lead with 11:25 left as Craan scored his second TD of the game on a one-yard plunge. That 14-play drive saw Guadagnoli convert both a fourth-and-two, with a five-yard pass to senior Matt Guay (North Attleboro/Xaverian Bros. HS), and a third-and-11, with a 12-yard completion to Hill.

After forcing Assumption's eighth punt of the day, Bentley drove from the Hound 46 to the five. However, a 22-yard field goal attempt by normally sure-footed kicker Michael Baron (Medfield/ Roxbury Latin HS) sailed left and it remained a one-possession game, 17-10.

The Hounds took advantage, moving 80 yards in nine plays to tie the game with 3:18 left. Bentley used up most of the remaining time with a 12-play drive coming to a halt at the Assumption 24 with 14 seconds left  until the Falcons' first OT game since 2007.

A 32-yard field goal by Baron with 10:07 left in the second gave Bentley a 3-0 lead, but it was short-lived. Assumption, after four punts and only one first down in the first quarter, needed only four plays to go 69 yards with junior James Ward (New Haven, Conn.) finishing the drive with a 13-yard run.

Bentley countered with a ten-play, 73-yard drive to reclaim the lead, 10-7. Guadagnoli passed for two first downs, Craan ran for another on a third-and-inches from the ten and Craan ran it in from the four.

The only scoring of the third was a 29-yard field goal by Assumption seniorTad Beuchert (Danvers), finishing a 15-play drive.

Bentley controlled the ball for 38:16 and ran an incredible 98 plays, including 89 in regulation and 51 in the first half. In sharp contrast, Assumption had just 20 plays before intermission and finished with 60.

The Falcons outgained the Hounds 452-266 with the big difference coming via the passing game. Guadagnoli was 22 of 43 for 278 yards while Vesey was held to 8 of 23 for 110 yards. Both clubs were able to run the ball with Bentley gaining 174 on 55 attempts, the team's most carries since 2011, and Assumption 156 on 37.

Craan, who was seeing his first action since Sept. 20, and Bannerman combined for 183 rushing yards. Like Craan, Bannerman posted a career-best, finishing with 71 yards on 17 carries. Hill, one of eight Falcons to catch a pass, led the receiving corps with seven for 89 yards.

The Bentley defense, which allowed more than four plays on only two of Assumption's 15 possessions, was led by senior linebacker Kyle Young (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial HS). He finished with nine tackles, including six solos. Hopwood, the reigning NE-10 Defensive Player of the Week, also had a productive day with five tackles, including 1.5 for losses and a sack.

Bentley will close out the regular season next Saturday with a 12 noon game at LIU Post.