WALTHAM, Mass. – Slow starts to seasons have hampered the Bentley University Falcons in recent years. In fact, there haven't been back-to-back victories in September since the 2012 team started 5-0.

Following a 35-21 road win at Saint Anselm Saturday, the Falcons will look to change that later this week when they host Merrimack College in the first Friday night game of the season. Kickoff is slated for 7 pm and a free webcast will be available at www.bentleyfalcons.tv.

It won't be an easy task as Bentley has had a difficult time with Merrimack in recent years, losing six of the last nine times the two have met, including a 41-10 decision last September in North Andover.

Both clubs are off to 1-1 starts, answering non-league losses (Bentley to West Chester, Merrimack to Bryant) with wins in their Northeast-10 opener last Saturday. While the Falcons posted their largest margin of victory since the end of the 2014 season, the Warriors overcame a 13-0 second half deficit for a 16-13 win over American International.

In the win, coach Bill Kavanaugh's team extended its streak of consecutive games with multiple turnovers forced to nine, dating back to last October. The Falcons had two interceptions against the Hawks, by senior safety Junior Chery (Waltham/Waltham HS) and senior corner Lamar Hardy (Centreville, Va./Westfield HS).

Bentley's five interceptions through two games is tied for the third most nationally in Division II and includes at least one from each of the four secondary starters. Senior free safety Sam McDonald (Norfolk/King Phillip Reg. HS) leads the Falcons with two, and his 16 career picks is two shy of the school and conference career records.

The Falcon offense against Saint Anselm featured solid performances from a pair of seniors, QB CJ Scarpa (Andover/Andover HS) and running back Martin Bannerman Jr. (Pawtucket, R.I./La Salle Academy), and touchdowns from five different players. Scarpa efficiently completed 14 of 20 passes for two touchdowns, no interceptions and 185 yards. On third downs, his accuracy was even better with seven completions, all for first downs or TDs, on nine throws.

For the season, Scarpa has a .604 completion percentage, third best in the NE-10, with only one interception in 53 throws.

Bannerman amassed 104 all-purpose running yards on 17 touches, including a 33-yard reception. He's rushed for a team-best 101 yards this year and is 67 yards away from 1,500 for his career.

Through the air, the ball has been spread around with seven players having caught multiple passes already this season. Grad student Sean Myers (Foxborough/Roxbury Latin HS) is coming off a six-reception game and now leads the team in both catches (9) and receiving yards (99). Sophomore Drew Mahoney (West Suffield, Conn./Suffield Academy) is second in receptions (8) and junior Brendan Burke (Norristown, Pa./Haverford School) is number two in receiving yards (84).

While both teams have split their first two games, Bentley has the edge statistically in a number of key categories. The Falcons have a 46 percent conversion rate on third down while the Warriors are just 9 of 32 (28 percent). Bentley's 10 penalties is half of what Merrimack has been assessed with the Warriors penalized 96 yards per game, 44 more than the Falcons.

Bentley grad student Matt Montalto (West Yarmouth/Dennis-Yarmouth Reg. HS) has averaged 28.4 yards on kickoff returns, a production level nearly double the Warriors' 14.8. Sticking with special teams, the Falcons also have the edge in punting with senior Tyler Ford (Amherst, N.H./Souhegan HS) owning the best career average in NE-10 history (40.4). For Merrimack, Grant LaButte has averaged 34.5 with one punt blocked this season.

Senior Nick Davis is in his second year as Merrimack's starting QB. He's put the ball in the air 92 times already this season, completing 54 percent for 513 yards and three TDs. Interceptions have been a problem in the first two games as he's been picked six times after throwing only 11 last year (1 every 31 attempts). Davis has also been the team's top rusher thus far, with 73 net yards.

Junior Devin O'Reilly leads the Warriors in receiving (10 for 127) and sophomore Shamik Perry has led the running backs with 60 yards in 17 carries.

The Warrior defense features two who were All-Conference picks last season, defensive end Josh Hill and free safety Brian Carroll. Hill had 7.5 sacks in 2015 and Carroll led the conference with six interceptions. Hill already has three sacks this season and Carroll had his eighth career interception in the AIC game.

In last year's game, Davis threw three TD passes and rushed for 85 yards as the Warriors rolled, leading by at least 10 after each quarter. Bannerman was a bright spot for the Falcons, rushing for 111 yards on 16 carries.

While Merrimack has had the edge in recent years, Bentley leads the all-time series, 13-10, including 7-5 in games played in Waltham.

Following Friday's encounter with the Warriors, the Falcons will prepare for a trip to Long Island and a third encounter with LIU Post in the team's last six games. The two clubs met in consecutive weeks last November with each team winning once.

BENTLEY BRIEFS: The Falcons have been efficient in the red zone this year, with six touchdowns and a field goal in eight trips. That's an improvement from a .619 success rate last year … Bentley has yet to allow a point in 2016 in either the first or third quarters.  However, the Falcons have been outscored 24-0 in the fourth quarter … Bentley's 21-point second quarter at Saint Anselm Saturday was its most productive stanza since scoring 28 against the Hawks in November 2013 … Kavanaugh is 11-13 in his three seasons as head coach at his alma mater, including 1-2 against Merrimack … The Warriors' Dan Curran is 18-16 in four seasons at the helm, including 3-1 against Bentley … Bentley's captains against Saint Anselm were Scarpa, McDonald and Montalto.