WORCESTER, Mass. – Junior linebacker Salvatore Lupoli Jr. (Chelmsford/Chelmsford HS), the conference leader in tackles, added eight to his total and also had a fumble recovery and a game-clinching interception as Bentley University won on the road, 10-3 at Assumption University in Northeast-10 Conference football at Brian Kelly Stadium Saturday afternoon. The win was the third straight for the Falcons (5-2, 3-1 NE10).

Bentley, which began the weekend ranked sixth in Division II in scoring defense, yielded only a fourth-quarter field goal and held the Greyhounds to 268 yards total offense and 11 first downs. The Falcon D has allowed only one touchdown in the last 14 quarters.

The only touchdown of the afternoon came with 11:10 left in the second quarter when senior tailback Nate Larkins (Huntington, N.Y./John Glenn HS) ran the ball in from the three. The play before was Bentley's longest of the season, a 77-yarder from graduate QB Mark Waid (Cortland, Ohio/Girard HS) to sophomore Isaiah Decias (Ozone Park, N.Y./Hudson Catholic HS) on a third-down play. Decias caught the ball at his own 26 and amassed 71 yards after the catch before being caught.

Bentley threatened to score again late in the first half but a 13-play, 53-yard drive came up short at the Assumption 27.

Junior kicker Mason Campbell (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier HS) made it a 10-0 game with 4:27 remaining on the third quarter clock when he drilled a career-best 45-yard field goal. It was his ninth of the season.

Following a short punt that gave Assumption (4-2, 3-1 NE10) the ball on its own 48, the Greyhounds spoiled Bentley's shutout bid with a 41-yard field goal by junior Nick Chodak (Rochester, N.Y.) with 4:59 to play.

The last three minutes of the game saw Bentley junior punter Charlie Ogletree (Needham/Needham HS) twice pin the Greyhounds back inside their own five-yard line. The first of those two possessions ended on a Lupoli interception and the second came with just ten seconds left on the clock.

Offense was at a premium for both teams as Bentley totaled 285 yards with 12 first downs. The two squads converted only five of 31 third downs combined and each had to punt nine times.

Waid and Larkins led Bentley in rushing, with 56 and 51 yards, respectively. Waid also threw for 133 yards on his nine completions.

Assumption put the ball in the air 34 times but managed only 78 yards on 12 completions.

Bentley will be at home next Saturday with a Family Weekend game against Southern Connecticut State University.