EASTON, Mass. – Eighteen seconds after Bentley University took its only lead of the contest, Stonehill College answered with a 23-yard run by sophomore Dylan Brown (Tinton Falls, N.J.) and went on to snap the Falcons' three-game winning streak, 21-14 in Northeast-10 Conference football Saturday afternoon at W.B. Mason Stadium.

Bentley, which was held without a first down in the opening half, grabbed a 14-13 lead with 3:49 left in the fourth when senior linebacker Matt McDermott (Merrimac/Central Catholic HS) recovered a fumble and took it in 22 yards for the Falcons' first defensive touchdown of the season. Senior Michael Baron (Medfield/Roxbury Latin HS) added the extra point to put the visitors on top.

Freshman Mike Cordova (Monroe, N.J.) returned the ensuing kickoff 35 yards to the Stonehill 47. At the end of the play, the Falcons were hit with two 15-yard penalties, a personal foul that moved the ball to the Bentley 38 and an unsportsmanlike that put it on the 23.

On the very next play, Brown took it to the end zone, putting the Skyhawks up 19-14. They went for two on the conversion with the pass from sophomore Matt Foltz (Mount Joy, Pa.) to classmate Alex Parenteau (Keene, N.H.) was successful.

The only points of the first half were scored on the opening play of the second quarter. After a rare poor punt gave Stonehill the ball on the Bentley 28, Foltz finished the five-play drive with a one-yard keeper.

Bentley's offense came alive on the opening drive of the second quarter with the big play being a 57-yard completion from senior QB Matt Montalto (West Yarmouth/Dennis-Yarmouth Reg. HS) to classmate Chris Calvanese (Norfolk/King Philip Reg. HS) to the Skyhawk 7. Three plays later, Montalto teamed up with tight end Alex Farkes (Boston/BB&N) for a seven-yard scoring pass and the extra point made it a 7-7 game.

The Falcons' next possession ended with Stonehill junior linebacker Anthony Leggio (Commack, N.Y.) recovering a fumble and returning it 28 yards for a go-ahead touchdown. The point-after attempt failed as a result of a bad snap and the home team had a 13-7 lead with 5:10 left in the third.

Just before McDermott's recovery and score, Bentley was denied in the red zone after a 30-yard run by senior Martin Bannerman (Pawtucket, R.I./La Salle Academy) produced a first-and-10 from the Stonehill 19.

Bentley was limited to seven first downs and 185 yards total offense with Montalto and Bannerman accounting for most of that. Montalto finished 14 of 23 for 106 yards while withstanding six sacks, and Bannerman carried 16 times for 58 yards.

Stonehill only managed 242 yards of offense with Brown rushing for 94 on 18 carries and Foltz completing 12 of 21 for 97.

Senior linebacker Bryan Hardy (Barnstable/Barnstable HS) led the Falcon defense with nine tackles and one sack, and junior corner Junior Chery (Waltham/Waltham HS) intercepted a Foltz pass at Bentley's one-yard line.

Both teams left the field with identical records of 4-4 overall and 4-3 NE-10, good for a three-way tie for third with LIU Post.

Bentley will be back at it Friday night, playing a 7 pm game at first-place Assumption College.