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WALTHAM, Mass. – Forty-seven days after returning to campus, the Bentley University Falcons will finally play a home game when they host the University of New Haven Chargers under the Friday night lights. The Falcons' only night game of 2019 will kick off at 7:05 pm.

The game will be part of the NCAA Showcase and will be webcast on the NCAA's social media channels as well as on the Northeast-10's digital network, NE10 NOW, and on MyTV9 in the New Haven area.

Fans are encouraged to buy tickets in advance at https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/3465113/bentley-vsnew-haven-waltham-football-stadium.

Bentley, which will be playing its conference opener, is looking for its first win of the season following a last minute opening-day loss to nationally-ranked West Chester and a five-point defeat at American International in a game that saw four lead changes. New Haven, on the other hand, will make the trip to Waltham with a 2-1 record after winning its last two, including 37-7 last Saturday against AIC in its NE10 opener.

In both games this season, coach Bill Kavanaugh's Falcons were overtaken in the second half after taking a lead into the halftime locker room. They were in front of nationally-ranked West Chester, 7-0, and were up 17-14 at AIC.

The offense has spent significant time on the field, averaging about 35 minutes of possession time and 78 plays per game, about 20 more than the opponent. However, of the six TDs that Bentley has allowed, four have been from at least 24 yards out.

Kavanaugh has a number of offensive weapons he can call upon, including junior running back Andrew Brazicki (Franklin Park, N.J./St. Thomas Aquinas HS) and senior slot receiver Drew Mahoney (West Suffield, Conn./Suffield Academy). Brazicki ranks second in the conference in rushing, averaging 109 yards a game and five per carry. Mahoney is third in Division II in catches per game (9.5) after grabbing 13, for 90 yards, at AIC.

Bentley also features the junior tandem of quarterback Stephen Sturm (Collegeville, Pa./ Perkiomen Valley HS) and wide receiver Austin Ryan (Foxborough/Foxborough HS). Sturm has completed a conference-best 64 percent of his passes but has averaged less than eight yards per completion to date. Ryan, who was on the receiving end of 16 TD passes in 2017 before missing last year with an injury, caught his 17th at AIC and has 12 receptions for 85 yards.

The defense has come up with six takeaways this season, including five in the West Chester game. At AIC, three-time All-Conference defensive back Pete Thorbahn (Norwell/Xaverian Brothers HS) recorded his 14th career interception, putting him in a tie for fifth in the Falcons' all-time list.

Thorbahn, who led the team in tackles last fall, is currently second with 13, one less than sophomore Jailen Branch (Randolph/Milton Academy).

New Haven, before dispatching AIC in its 2019 home debut, had split two non-conference games on the road to start the season. Coach Chris Pincince's team opened with a 24-13 loss at Indiana (Pa.) and bounced back with a 31-9 victory at Stonehill.

The Chargers have been strong defensively, with their average of 215.3 yards per game allowed best in the NE10 and sixth stingiest in Division II. In the two wins, they limited Stonehill to 145 yards and AIC to 229. New Haven has eight takeaways, including three interceptions from junior defensive back Shawn Tate, and ten sacks, including two from senior defensive end Markel Johnson.

While Bentley's offense is close to being balanced between rushing and passing plays, New Haven has run the ball two-thirds of the time. First-year starting QB Nick Robins has completed 57 percent of his passes for 452 yards and four TD with grad student Ju'an Williams his primary target. He's caught 14 balls for 209 yards and one TD.

On the ground, Shamar Logan has rushed for 273 yards and averaged 5.6 yards per carry. Chris Liggio is listed as the starter, but he hasn't played since running for 90 yards on 14 carries against IUP.

New Haven has had the upper hand in the all-time series, winning eight of the previous ten meetings. Eight of the ten have been decided by seven points or less, including a 27-24 Bentley win in OT in 2017 and a New Haven 31-27 victory last fall.

That game had six lead changes with the Chargers going in front for good with 26 seconds left in the third. Sturm led the Falcons with 263 passing yards and two TDs while New Haven had a pair of 100-yard rushers, including Liggio.

After facing New Haven, Bentley will be back on the road for an Oct. 5 encounter at Assumption College. Due to the EEE threat, the starting time for that one has been moved to 12 noon.

BENTLEY BRIEFS: The time for the Stonehill game on Oct. 19 has been shifted from 6 pm to 1 pm ... freshman Charlie Ogletree (Needham/Needham HS) is second in the NE10 in punting at 41.3 ... in the 2017 overtime win, Grant Buchanan (Holliston/Holliston HS) drilled a 39-yard field goal to give the Falcons the win. That game saw four ties and four lead changes.