On September 27, 2019, senior Will Sheriffs returned an interception for a touchdown on the first play of the game, junior QB Stephen Sturm amassed 294 yards total offense, senior receiver Drew Mahoney caught 11 balls for 146 yards and the defense pitched a shutout over the final 55 minutes as Bentley defeated the New Haven, 31-14, in a Friday night home game. The contest was broadcast as part of the NCAA Division II Showcase.

While the offense was powered by Sturm and Mahoney, the Falcon defense came up big after giving up 14 points in the first five minutes and sophomore Isaiah Collins returned three kickoffs for 139 yards, twice taking the ball past midfield.

After Sheriffs pick-six gave Bentley a 7-0 lead 15 seconds into the game, the next five minutes were not good as the NE10 preseason favorite Chargers scored twice in a span of 97 seconds, with a fumble recovery at the Bentley 29 sandwiched in between.

Bentley scored the next 24 points, beginning with the only score of the second quarter, a one-yard run by senior Jordan Artope. The run of 24 unanswered continued on the opening drive of the second half. Ten plays after Collins returned the ball 56 yards to the New Haven 37, senior Grant Buchanan kicked a 20-yard field goal to put the Falcons in front, 17-14.

The Falcons scored on their next possession as well, a 79-yard pass from Sturm to Mahoney. He caught the ball at about the New Haven 40 and took it the rest of the way untouched. Following a fourth-down stop by the defense near midfield, Bentley made it a three-possession game with 10:29 left in the fourth, Artope's second TD of the night completing the scoring.

Sturm distributed the ball to seven players and finished 23 of 37 through the air for 236 yards. He also scrambled for a team-best 58 yards on nine carries.

Sheriffs, in addition to the pick-six, forced a fumble midway through the fourth quarter. Sophomore Jailen Branch also had an interception for Bentley, and classmate Ryan Philibotte recovered a fumble.

The victory, Bentley's first of the season, proved to be the difference at the end of the season. The Falcons and Chargers finished tied for first in the NE10, but the early season win gave Bentley the conference championship.