EASTON, Mass. – After a fumble inches from the goal line ended Bentley University's overtime possession, Stonehill College senior Malachi Baugh (Stoughton) answered with a four-yard TD run, giving the Skyhawks a 41-35 win over the Falcons in Northeast-10 Conference football Saturday night at WB Mason Stadium.

Bentley, which received a standout performance from freshman QB Stephen Sturm (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley HS) in his first career start, dropped to 4-3 overall and 4-2 in the conference. Stonehill used a 31-7 run over the final 25 minutes of regulation and the untimed OT to improve to 3-3 in NE10 action (4-3 overall).

Sturm finished 22 of 28 for 238 yards and four touchdowns, including a 10-yard scoring pass to junior Jordan Zlogar (Clifton Park, N.Y./ Shenendehowa HS) in the final minute of regulation. Two of his TD aerials went to classmate Austin Ryan (Foxborough/Foxborough HS), who finished with five catches for 126 yards.

After Stonehill won the coin toss to start the OT, Bentley used an 11-yard run from freshman running back Andrew Brazicki (Franklin Park, N.J./Bishop Ahr HS) and a face mask penalty for a first-goal at the two. After two short runs by Brazicki made it third and inches, he was stripped on the third down play with sophomore Miles Strickland (Teaneck, N.J.) coming up with the ball for Stonehill.

Baugh got the ball on five of the seven plays Stonehill ran during its OT possession, gaining a total of 14 yards, including the game-winner on a second-and-goal.

Less than 40 seconds after Stonehill took a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter, Bentley reclaimed the lead when Sturm went deep to Ryan. Ryan caught it at about the Skyhawk 25 and sprinted untouched into the end zone for the go-ahead score.

That TD began a 21-0 Bentley run that put the Falcons up 28-10 with 11:46 remaining in the third. A three-yard run by Brazicki finished a 97-yard drive that included a 44-yard run down the right sideline by junior Drew Mahoney (West Suffield, Conn./Suffield Academy) and sent the visitors into the halftime locker room on the positive side of a 21-10 score.

Bentley got the ball to begin the second half and responded with a touchdown for the third straight drive. Sturm and Ryan teamed up again, this time from 32 yards out for a 28-10 lead.

That lead had evaporated by the end of the third with Stonehill scoring three touchdowns in the final 9:17 of the quarter while ridng the running of sophomore Brian Kearns, Jr. (North Arlington, N.J.)  He had TD runs of 44 and two yards before sophomore Matthew Haite (Kingston) kicked a tying 37-yard field goal.

That Stonehill surge grew to 25 unanswered points when senior QB Matt Foltz (Mount Joy, Pa.) threw a  tie-breaking 21-yard TD pass to sophomore Zac Pungitore (Norwood) midway through the fourth.

After finally forcing a punt, Bentley got the ball back at its own 27 with 2:49 and only one timeout left. Sturm engineered a masterful drive, completing six of seven, including the 10-yard pass to an open Zlogar in the right corner of the end zone for six with 49 seconds left. Sophomore Grant Buchanan (Holliston/Holliston HS) came on to add the extra point, making it a 35-all game.

Stonehill had a chance in the final minute, but Haite's 49-yard field goal attempt with three seconds left was well short.

Zlogar had his best game as a collegian, finishing with six catches for 76 yards, and Mahoney gave the Falcons 74 rushing yards and five receptions for 17.  Defensively, Bentley was led by senior linebacker Brandon Brown (Oxon Hill, Md./Suitland HS) with 12 tackles, including two for losses.

Kearns set a facility rushing record for Stonehill, gaining 243 yards on 34 carries with two touchdowns. Baugh added 65 rushing yards and Foltz was 21 of 28 through the air for 218 yards.

Both teams averaged 6.3 yards per play, but Stonehill outgained the Falcons 545-398 in total offense by virtue of running 23 more plays (86-63). Stonehill more than doubled Bentley in rushing yards, 327-160, and had a 26-19 advantage in first downs.

Bentley will look to rebound next Saturday when it hosts Southern Connecticut State at 1 pm.