WALTHAM, Mass. – Coming off a 15-13 victory at Pace University last Friday, the Bentley University Falcons will look to string together consecutive wins for the first time this season when they host Saint Anselm College Saturday afternoon in Northeast-10 Conference football action.  Kickoff is set for 1 pm with free live video available at www.bentleyfalcons.com.

Both teams sport identical records (2-3 overall, 2-2 NE-10) and are right in the middle of very congested Northeast-10 standings. Assumption College, Stonehill College and the University of New Haven are all 3-1 in conference action while the Falcons and Hawks are two of the five teams just a game back.

With Assumption and New Haven playing each other Friday night, the winner of Saturday's Bentley-Saint Anselm will be assured of being no lower than a tie for third after the weekend.

Last Friday's rain-soaked victory at Pace featured junior running back Martin Bannerman (Pawtucket, R.I./La Salle Academy), who has been a major reason, coupled with the offensive line, that the Falcons already have more rushing yards (895) than in all of 2014 (893).

Bannerman got the ball 35 times against the Setters, the most carries by a Falcon since 2007 and just four away from the school record, and delivered 181 yards and the team's only touchdown. It was the third 100-yard effort of the season for the 5-foot-9, 205-pounder.

Bannerman, who eclipsed 1,000 yards in career rushing during the game, has gained 495 yards to date with his 95 carries tied for the NE-10 high.

Bentley totaled 254 rushing yards against Pace, the first time since October 2005 that the Falcons have gone for over 200 in back-to-back contests. Included was the team's longest run of the season, a 38-yarder by Bannerman when the Falcons were pinned back on their own three.

The offensive line features two players who have over 20 career starts, All-Conference junior tackle Eric Beckwith (North Attleboro/North Attleboro HS) and senior left guard Matt Biscardi (Holbrook, N.Y./St. Anthony's HS). That group is expected to grow by one on Saturday with senior right tackle Ryan Anger (Worcester/St. John's HS) due to make his 20th.

Senior Matt Montalto (West Yarmouth/Dennis-Yarmouth Reg. HS) has started all five games at quarterback for the Falcons, completing 52 percent of his passes for 673 yards and four TDs. The air game wasn't a major part of the arsenal in the rain at Pace with Montalto attempting only seven passes. Montalto helped lock up the win when he ran for 24 yards on a fourth-and-six from the Pace 30 with 1:33 left.

The top receivers for the Falcons thus far have been tight end Alex Farkes (Boston/BB&N) and senior Chris Calvanese (Norfolk/Xaverian Bros. HS). Farkes has 16 for 190 in his second Bentley season after four years of baseball at Penn State, and Calvanese follows with 14 for 188.

Defensively, Bentley has shown an ability to come up with the loose ball with the Falcons' eight fumble recoveries a conference-best. Seven different players have recovered at least one, including senior defensive end Paul Norris (North Attleboro/North Attleboro HS) who has two. Sophomore linebacker Brandon Brown (Oxon Hill, Md./Suitland HS) forced his second of the year at Pace and he also recovered one on special teams.

Junior linebacker Bryan Hardy (Barnstable/Centerville HS) and senior linebacker Matt McDermott (Merrimac/Central Catholic HS) lead the Falcons in tackles, with 39 and 30, respectively. McDermott is coming off a season-best ten at Pace.

Saint Anselm, a 26-20 winner over American International in week four, will be looking to bounce back from a 51-19 home loss to Assumption. Special teams were an issue as the Hawks allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown, gave up another score on a fumbled punt return, had two punts blocked and had a fumbled snap on a punt.

With record-setting QB Yianni Gavalas (3,337 passing yards last season) lost to a season-ending injury, freshman Eric Fairweather is expected to make his second career start for the Hawks. Thus far in his brief college career, he's completed 24 of 44 for 235 yards, no touchdowns and one interception.

Just like Bannerman for Bentley, Holy Cross transfer Elad Covaliu has been a force running the ball for Saint Anselm. He's had at least 90 in four straight games, including an incredible 259, on only 20 carries, in a tough loss to LIU Post in week three.

Bentley, 14-1 all-time against Saint Anselm, will be looking to avenge its only loss to the Hawks, 38-34 last September. The Hawks were down ten midway through the fourth quarter before rallying for the game's final 14, including the game-winning TD with 2:13 left. On their final possession, the Falcons moved to the Saint Anselm 26 before turning the ball over on downs with 0:39 left.

Bentley will also be at home next Saturday with American International providing the opposition.