WALTHAM, Mass. – Ask second-year Bentley University head football coach Bill Kavanaugh about who sets the tone for this year's team and he'll point out it's the defensive line, a group that includes three of the Falcons' four captains.

Senior d-linemen Paul Norris (North Attleboro/North Attleboro HS), Quincy Giles (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral HS) and Bob Richman (North Attleboro/North Attleboro HS) will lead Bentley into Erie, Pa. for Saturday's season-opener at Mercyhurst University. Kickoff for the Falcons' only out-of-conference encounter of the year is set for 12 noon.

This is the third straight year that the Falcons will open against the Lakers but the first time the two will square off at Mercyhurst's Tullio Field. Bentley prevailed in the previous two encounters, rallying for a 17-16 victory in 2013 and using 17 second-half points to claim a 27-21 decision in the 2014 opener.

It's an experienced front line for the Falcons with those three, coupled with junior Keith Ducharme (Quinebaug, Conn./Pomfret School) and senior Jeff Amell (Buxton, Maine/Bonny Eagle HS), having 124 combined games of experience and a total of 52 tackles for losses.

In contrast, Bentley does not have that same level of experience at quarterback. Kavanaugh deemed senior Matt Montalto (West Yarmouth/Dennis-Yarmouth Reg. HS) the starter following the preseason camp but also plans on using junior CJ Scarpa (Andover/Andover HS).

"We have two quarterbacks who can run our offense efficiently," said Kavanaugh, who spent six years on the staff at Penn State before returning to his alma mater.

Montalto completed six of 14 passes for 101 yards and one TD while spelling former Falcon standout Danny Guadagnoli in 2013. Scarpa put the ball in the air four times last fall, completing three.

While Montalto and Scarpa don't have a lot of game experience, they are surrounded by a number of guys who have played a lot of football. "Our offensive line is tough, we're versatile at tight end and we're deep at receiver," summarized Kavanaugh.

Graduation claimed three-time All-Northeast-10 honoree Jeff Hill (200 career receptions), but Bentley's receiving corps includes several who have proven themselves over the years. Junior Sean Myers (Foxboro/Roxbury Latin School) reached the end zone six times last season while catching 35 balls for 551 yards. Senior Chris Walsh (Attleboro/Attleboro HS) had 26 catches for 323 yards, and junior Chris Calvanese (Norfolk/Xaverian Bros. HS) started his sophomore season with 17 catches in the first four games, including seven for 135 against Mercyhurst, before being hit by injury.

Second-year grad student Alex Farkes (Boston/BB&N) returns at tight end after having 35 catches a year ago, his first season of football since 2009.

Junior Martin Bannerman (Pawtucket, R.I./La Salle Academy) led the 2014 Falcons in rushing, gaining 361 yards with five scores. Senior George Craan (Hyde Park/Concord-Carlisle HS), in his first game action since 2012, ran for 296, including 112 in a 28-carry effort at Assumption.

The offensive line features junior left tackle Eric Beckwith (North Attleboro/North Attleboro HS), a 2014 second-team All-Conference honoree, senior captain Matt Biscardi (Holbrook, N.Y./St. Anthony's HS) at left guard, and senior Ryan Anger (Worcester/St. John's HS) at right tackle.  Sophomore right guard Michael Dulac (White River Junction, Vt./Hartford HS) started five times last year and sophomore Connor Peck (Sherborn/Catholic Memorial HS) will take over at center.

Kavanaugh terms his linebacker corps as solid with the returnees led by junior Bryan Hardy (Barnstable/Barnstable HS), the Falcons' top tackler last year with 103, including 19 in the season finale at Merrimack. Grad student Even Mattern (San Diego, Calif./Rancho Bernardo HS) has played a lot of football on the edge for the Falcons and senior Craig Hanley (Walpole/Walpole HS) has been a big part of the team the last couple years, although not as a starter.

In the secondary, Bentley has three guys who have played a lot of football – senior corners Emmitt Smith (Derry, N.H.) and Josh Charles (Hyde Park/Catholic Memorial HS), along with junior safety Sean McDonald (Norfolk/King Phillip Reg. HS) – and another, junior Junior Chery (Waltham/ Waltham HS), who had a great finish to last year. McDonald's resume from his first two seasons includes nine interceptions for 179 yards.

The Falcon kicking game is extremely solid with senior placekicker Michael Baron (Medfield/ Roxbury HS), junior punter Tyler Ford (Amherst/Souhegan HS) and senior long snapper Sean Pruneau (Plano, Texas/Plano West HS).  Baron's career totals include 20 of 29 field goals and 74 of 76 extra points, and Ford's 39.9 punting average last year was a school record.

The fruits of a successful recruiting year have shown promise during the preseason with the two-deep for Saturday including five freshmen on offense and another on defense.

In summary, Kavanaugh believes he has an aggressive team, and if the Falcons can avoid mistakes, they can be successful.

Mercyhurst had an up-and-down season a year ago. The Lakers, after dropping their first four, finished with a seven-game winning streak, a stretch in which they put up nearly 43 points a game.

Two of the leaders of that offense, quarterback Brendan Boylan and running back Brandon Brown-Dukes, are among the returnees. Brown-Dukes, a three-time all-PSAC West selection, has rushed for over 3,000 yards in his career, including 774 last year, and Boylan threw for 29 TDs and nearly 3,000 yards in 2014.

Four members of the Laker defense earned All-Conference honors last year with the only returnee of the group being linebacker Joe Dever (66 tackles, 9 TFL). Losses include the team leader in tackles (Michael Foster, 75), interceptions (Colin Kimball, 7) and sacks (Nick Kurpakus, 3).

Following the trip to Pennsylvania, Bentley will return home to host New Haven Sept. 11 under the Friday night lights in the home and conference opener.

BENTLEY BRIEFS: Bentley was picked seventh in the preseason NE-10 coaches poll while Mercyhurst was tied for third in the PSAC West preseason rankings … Bentley has won its last four season openers and is 23-4 on opening day since the program gained varsity status in 1988 … The Falcons will be making their first trip to Pennsylvania since besting Millersville in 2007 … This year's team includes players from 18 states, Singapore and Japan … There are two from Pennsylvania: freshman kicker Josh Leon (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury HS) and sophomore WR Brendan Burke (Norristown, Pa./ Haverford School) ... Live stats will be available at www.bentleyfalcons.com.