WALTHAM, Mass. – Senior quarterback Stephen Sturm (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley HS) threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more as Bentley University extended its winning streak to six games with a season-opening 41-17 non-conference win over West Chester University Friday night at home.

The Falcons, who were playing for the first time in more than 650 days, also received strong performances from junior tailback Nathaniel Larkins (Huntington, N.Y./John Glenn HS) and senior Abel Lopes Jr. (Scituate/Scituate HS). Larkins ran for 149 yards and one TD on 15 carries and Lopes Jr. returned a punt 84 yards (a school record) for a touchdown.

The night didn't start out well for the Falcons as West Chester, 4-0 all-time against Bentley, returned the game's opening kickoff the distance. However, it was negated by a penalty and the Golden Rams did not reach the endzone again until the game's final six minutes.

It was 14-0 after the first quarter despite West Chester having the ball for more than ten minutes. After stopping WCU on the first possession, Bentley used a six-play, 80-yard drive to take a 7-0 lead. Sturm completed a 38-yard pass to graduate tailback Andrew Brazicki (Franklin Park, N.J./St. Thomas Aquinas) to the Ram 27 and hit junior Noah Neville (Boston/Newton North HS) in the endzone for a 19-yard TD.

Later in the first, Lopes fielded the punt after it had been touched by a teammate and sprinted the distance for the score.

Bentley also put up two scores in the second quarter and took a 27-3 lead into the halftime break. Following an interception from graduate cornerback Jack Scordato (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo HS), the Falcons marched down the field with Sturm, on a three-yard keeper, capping the six-play, 80-yard drive.

After a West Chester field goal, a 16-yard TD pass from Sturm to junior Tajon Vassar (Worcester/Doherty HS) capped the first-half scoring.

Barely three minutes into the second half, the score stood at 34-3 after a 16-yard run by Larkins.

Sturm made it a commanding 41-3 game when he ran the ball in from the 17 with about eight minutes left on the clock.

Sturm's night saw him complete 11 of 18 passes for 140 yards and scramble ten times for another 72 yards. Brazicki had 100 all-purpose yards, with four carries for 52 and three receptions for 48.   

Leading the Falcons in tackles, with ten apiece, were UMass transfer Cole McCubrey (Boylston/ Tahanto Reg. HS) and junior Salvatore Lupoli Jr. (Chelmsford/Chelmsford HS). Senior d-end Cedie Dashiell II (Buena Park, Calif./Buena Park HS) had a sack for the sixth straight game.

Bentley outgained the visitors by nearly 200 yards, 440 to 242. That included exactly 300 on 39 carries, an average of 7.7 per attempt. West Chester rushed for 175 but completed only eight of 21 passes.

Next Saturday, Bentley will play a non-conference game at NE10 foe Assumption College.