WALTHAM, Mass. – An important midseason showdown in the Northeast-10 Conference is set for Friday night when the Bentley University Falcons host the nationally-ranked Assumption College Greyhounds in a battle of two teams looking to stay close to the top in the conference. Kickoff is set for 7 pm with a free webcast available at www.bentleyfalcons.tv.

Both have won three of their first four NE-10 contests with each dropping a close one to undefeated LIU Post recently. Bentley lost to the Pioneers 27-24 on Sept. 24 on a game-ending field goal and No. 22 Assumption fell at home this past Saturday, 19-18, after holding a six-point lead with six minutes to play.

Bentley improved to 3-2 overall on Saturday when the Falcons celebrated Homecoming with a 28-0 shutout of Pace University. Coach Bill Kavanaugh's team forced multiple turnovers for the 12th straight game, scored its third defensive touchdown of the season and only yielded one first down during the first three quarters.

The Falcons seized control of a scoreless game with two touchdowns in the final two minutes of the first half. Freshman corner Peter Thorbahn (Norwell/Xaverian Brothers HS) went 67 yards with Bentley's third pick-six of 2016, sophomore Aaron Chretien (Commerce Township Mich./Walled Lake Northern HS) blocked a punt and  senior QB CJ Scarpa (Andover/Andover HS) finished a short three-play drive with a five-yard TD pass to classmate Sean Myers (Foxborough/Roxbury Latin HS).

While the defense turned in a stellar performance that included allowing only 155 net yards and forcing 11 punts, the offense struggled on a wet field, totaling only 241 yards. Most of the offensive success came on the ground with Bentley running for 178 yards, including a season-best 88, on 23 carries, from senior tailback George Craan (Hyde Park/Concord-Carlisle HS).

Bentley's 20 touchdowns though five games, from 12 different players, is just one shy of the team's total from all of 2015, and the team's 30.4 scoring average ranks fourth in the Northeast-10. Wide receivers Chris Calvanese (Norfolk/Xaverian Bros. HS) and Drew Mahoney (West Suffield, Conn./ Suffield Academy) top the TD list with three apiece.

Scarpa has thrown for 854 yards and eight scores while completing 62 percent of his passes, the third best accuracy mark in the conference. Mahoney leads the Falcons in receiving (30 for 386), Myers pulls in four passes a game and Craan has taken over as the team's top rusher with 192 yards.

The veteran o-line has provided solid protection, yielding only four sacks during the first five games. Flanking junior center Connor Peck (Sherborn/Catholic Memorial HS) have been grad students Ryan Anger (Shrewsbury/St. John's HS) and Matt Biscardi (Holbrook, N.Y./St. Anthony's HS), All-Conference senior Eric Beckwith (North Attleboro/North Attleboro HS) and sophomore tackle Jack Hansbury (Tyngsboro/Chelmsford HS). Combined, they've made 104 starts, including 33 by Biscardi, 30 by Anger and 29 by Beckwith.

Seven members of the Falcon defense have interceptions already this season with Bentley's 12 as a team tied for second in Division II and the team's 331 yards in return yards the most of any NCAA institution, regardless of division. Thorbahn leads the way with three picks, and safeties Nick Athy (Holliston/Holliston HS), Sam McDonald (Norfolk/King Philip Reg. HS) and Junior Chery (Waltham/ Waltham HS) each have two interceptions.

Senior linebacker Bryan Hardy (Barnstable/Barnstable HS) has been the team's leading tackler by a wide margin, with his 51 tackles second most in the conference.

Assumption, a year removed from reaching the second round of the NCAA playoffs, saw its regular season win streak halted at 14 with the one-point loss to LIU Post. Despite being held to 18 points, the Hounds lead the conference in scoring, putting up 42.4 points a game.  Each of their four wins were decided by at least three touchdowns.

In addition to scoring, Assumption is number one in the NE-10 in third-down efficiency (.500), fumble recoveries (4), covering kick returns (16.5), passing efficiency defense (92.46), rushing yards (224.4), fewest sacks allowed (1) and total offense (479.8).

Six-foot-four Marc Monks starts at quarterback for the Hounds. He's thrown for a conference-best 14 touchdowns and 1,259 yards while completing 57 percent of his attempts. Junior Ashton Grant leads the NE-10 in TD catches (7) and receiving yards per game (109.8), and Assumption has three running backs who have gained over 250 yards this season, including Doug Santos who has averaged 5.8 yards per carry. The team's 15 rushing TDs include six by Dylan Oxsen and four from Alex Shain.

Last year's game was a forgettable one for the Falcons with Assumption using two punt returns by Deonte Harris, a blocked punt and a pair of safeties to build a 24-0 first-half lead. Bentley held the ball for 35:19 but managed only 263 yards of total offense.

Following the Assumption encounter, Bentley will prepare for a trip to Springfield for an Oct. 15 contest at American International.

BENTLEY BRIEFS: In addition to interceptions, Bentley ranks in the top ten in Division II in defensive touchdowns, fourth down conversion defense, blocked punts and pass efficiency defense … senior Tyler Ford (Amherst, N.H./Souhegan HS) is fourth in Division II in punting (45.5) after kicking the ball 10 times for a 46.2 average against Pace. Included was a 68-yarder as he tied the school record for longest punt for the fourth time in his career … Kavanaugh's record now stands at 13-14, including 12-9 in his last 21 games … In the third quarter Saturday, Pace had the ball for just 2:52 and six plays … since both teams gained varsity status prior to the 1988 season, Bentley is 26-3 against Assumption, although the Hounds have won two of the last three … each of Bentley's first five games had different starting times (12:00, 4:00, 7:00, 1:00 and 2:00).