MANCHESTER, N.H. – Senior quarterback Stephen Sturm (Collegeville., Pa./Perkiomen Valley HS) threw three touchdown passes, ran for a clinching score and amassed 379 yards of total offense as Bentley University, the number 24-ranked team in the AFCA Division II coaches poll, stayed unbeaten with a 34-21 victory at Saint Anselm College in Northeast-10 Conference football Saturday at Grappone Stadium.

Bentley reached the midpoint of the schedule at a perfect 5-0 (3-0 NE10) and extended its winning streak to ten games, dating back to October 2019.

The Falcons dominated the first 35 minutes, scoring 27 unanswered points, before Saint Anselm ran off 21 straight to draw within six with 2:11 to play. A one-yard keeper by Sturm 20 seconds later, following an unsuccessful onside attempt and a 43-yard run by grad student Andrew Brazicki (Franklin Park, N.J./St. Thomas Aquinas HS) essentially locked up the victory.

Bentley's opening drive, which covered 70 yards in 13 plays, was finished by Brazicki, with a five-yard run off left tackle with 6:13 left in the first.

Two of Sturm's TD passes came in the second quarter, a three-yarder to senior Noah Neville (Boston/Newton North HS) and a 21-yarder to senior Austin Ryan (Foxborough/Foxboro HS), who just got one foot down. Neville's came three plays after he hauled in a 37-yard catch. They were both lengthy drives, 12 plays for 88 yards and seven for 96.

The Bentley offense remained potent to start the third quarter with an eight-play, 78-yard drive making it a 27-0 game. Freshman Zay Dacias (Ozone Park, N.Y./Hudson Catholic HS) caught three passes on the drive, including a 34-yarder to the Hawk 4 and a seven-yarder for his first career TD.

Sophomore QB Drew Willoughby (Austin, Texas) led the Saint Anselm comeback with a trio of TD passes. There was a seven-yarder to junior Anthony Brown (Belton, Texas) to spoil the shutout bid with 6:28 left in the third, an eight-yarder to freshman Carson Goda (Bradenton, Fla.) and an 11-yarder to senior Bobby Long (Bridgewater, Mass.).

Saint Anselm (1-3, 1-2 NE10) had no trouble moving the ball in the second half, amassing 314 yards of offense and 21 first downs after intermission. For the game, they finished with 520 yards offense and 32 first downs.

The Bentley defense denied the Hawks three times in the red zone, including an interception by freshman Rene Nunez (Secaucus, N.J./Bergen Catholic HS) in the end zone and a fumble recovery at the one by sophomore linebacker Sal Lupoli (Chelmsford, Mass./ Chelmsford HS).

Grad student Cole McCubrey (Boylston, Mass./Tahanto Reg. HS) and Nunez led Bentley in tackles, with 13 and 12, respectively. Senior Manny Resto (Avenel, N.J./St. Joseph HS) had the Falcons' third takeaway, an interception that locked up the outcome with 25 seconds left.       

Sturm completed 23 of 35 aerials for 307 yards and no interceptions, an efficiency rating of 167.68. Decias had his best game as a collegian, with six receptions for 114 yards and Neville caught eight for 89. Sturm was also Bentley's leading rusher, with 72 yards on 12 carries.

Willoughby put the ball in the air 73 times and completed 47 of those for 456 yards. Brown, one of three Hawks to catch at least 11 balls, led his team with 138 receiving yards.

Bentley finished with 21 first downs, 160 rushing yards, 467 yards total offense and one turnover. In addition, the Falcons were perfect on five visits to the red zone.

The Falcons will be at home next Saturday for a 1 pm encounter with Pace University.