MANCHESTER, N.H. – Senior quarterback CJ Scarpa (Andover, Mass./Andover HS) threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score as Bentley University opened its Northeast-10 Conference schedule with a 35-21 win over Saint Anselm College Saturday afternoon at Grappone Stadium.

The Falcons outscored the Hawks by a touchdown in each of the first three quarters while bouncing back from a season-opening loss to West Chester. Saint Anselm, which was flagged for 15 penalties, dropped to 0-2.

Bentley went into the locker room riding a two-touchdown advantage, 28-14, after scoring on four of five first-half possessions. Four different Falcons reached the end zone with TD catches by senior Sean Myers (Foxborough, Mass./Roxbury Latin HS) and junior Brendan Burke (Norristown, Pa./Haverford School) sandwiched around scoring runs by seniors George Craan (Hyde Park, Mass./Concord-Carlisle HS) and Martin Bannerman Jr. (Pawtucket, R.I./La Salle Academy).

The Falcons' first possession of the afternoon lasted 16 plays, covered 69 yards and featured four third-down conversions. Myers caught four passes from Scarpa on the drive, including a five-yarder for the score, and sophomore tight end Marc Kazdan (Weston, Fla./American Heritage Plantation HS) also played a key role, with two catches, including a 19-yarder.

After Saint Anselm answered with the first of two TD first-half TD catches by sophomore Kyle Hill (Upper Marlboro, Md.), Bentley regained the lead with 9:39 left in the second quarter. Craan took it in from the three-yard line, finishing a drive that saw the Falcons gain a pair of first downs by penalty.

Three plays later, the visitors had the ball back at the Hawk 23, the result of an interception and 25-yard return by Bentley senior safety Junior Chery (Waltham, Mass./Waltham HS). Following a seven-yard gain on first down, Bannerman took it outside for a 16-yard scamper for a touchdown and a 21-7 lead with 7:56 left in the quarter.

The lead was cut in half with 4:12 left until intermission, senior Yianni Gavalas (Manhasset, N.Y.) finding Hill for an 18-yard TD pass.

After an exchange of punts, Bentley worked the two-minute drill to perfection with a 31-yard pass from Scarpa to Burke finishing a 64-yard, six-play drive that took only 52 seconds.

The only scoring of the second half came on the final play of the third when Scarpa called his own number, carrying it in from five yards out to finish a 12-play, 62-yard drive.

Scarpa finished 14 of 20 through the air for 185 yards and no interceptions. Myers was his prime target, with six catches for 55 yards, and Bannerman led the Falcons in rushing with 71 yards on 16 carries.

Chery was Bentley's leading tackler with eight, one more than senior linebacker Bryan Hardy (Barnstable, Mass./Barnstable HS). Senior corner Lamar Hardy (Centreville, Va./Westfield HS) had the Falcons' fifth interception of the season and also a pair of pass break-ups, and junior linebacker Joey Piatnik (Bethel, Conn./Bethel HS) had the game's only sack.

Gavalas put the ball in the air 41 times, completing 21 for 238 yards with Hill making a dozen catchess for 125 yards.

Saint Anselm, which controlled the ball for 33:43, outgained the Falcons by two net yards, 304-302, and Bentley had one more first down, 19-18. Both teams were very efficient on third down with the Falcons eight of 12 and the Hawks 11 of 16.

Next up for the Falcons is Merrimack at home Friday night.