MANCHESTER, N.H. – Saint Anselm junior Elad Covaliu (Rockville, Md.) took it up the middle from three yards out for a go-ahead touchdown with 2:13 to play and the Hawk defense denied the Falcons on their final two possessions as Saint Anselm rallied from ten down in the fourth to edge Bentley University, 38-34, in Northeast-10 Conference football Saturday afternoon at Grappone Stadium.

Covaliu's touchdown was the fourth in five second-half possessions for Saint Anselm, which improved to 3-0 (its highest win total in a decade) and 2-0 in the conference. Bentley, which had a comeback bid denied in the final minute for the second straight week, fell to 1-2 overall and 0-2 NE-10.

Saint Anselm's game-winning drive began with 4:46 to play at its own 48 following a short punt. There were two third-down conversions, including a third-and-ten from the Bentley 40. A 33-yard completion from sophomore Yianni Gavalas (Manhasset, N.Y.) to senior Brandon Gomes (Providence, R.I.) made it first-and-goal from the seven and set the stage for three straight carries by Covaliu.

On the ensuing possession, the Falcons drove to the Hawk 26 before being denied on their final five snaps (four incomplete passes and an ineligible receiver downfield penalty).

After being held without a first down for the first 17 minutes of the game and without a point for the first 20, Bentley put up 17 points in the final ten minutes of the opening half to take a 17-10 lead into the break. Graduate student Alex Farkes (Boston, Mass./BB&N School) caught a 12-yard pass from classmate Danny Guadagnoli (Framingham, Mass./Framingham HS) for Bentley's first score, junior George Craan (Hyde Park, Mass./Concord-Carlisle HS) rushed for a three-yard TD and junior Michael Baron (Medfield, Mass./Roxbury Latin School) kicked a 29-yard field goal on the half's final play, a possession set up by the Falcons' third takeaway, an interception by senior Nick McCarthy (Winthrop, Mass./Winthrop HS).

Saint Anselm wasted no time drawing even to start the third quarter, moving 80 yards in ten plays on a drive capped by a one-yard keeper by Gavalas. The Hawk QB ran for two touchdowns and threw for two others on a day he completed 37 of 49 for 386 yards.

Bentley, which scored on six straight possessions after the slow start, answered with a ten-play drive of its own, Senior Jeff Hill (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield HS) was on the receiving end of an eight-yard scoring strike from Guadagnoli, the TD reception the 26th of his career.

After the Falcons grabbed the 24-17 lead with just under six minutes left in the third, it was Saint Anselm's turn. Gavalas and Gomes teamed up on a 23-yard scoring pass and the game was even again, this time at 24-all with 3:46 left.

A 30-yard kickoff return by junior Chris Walsh (Attleboro, Mass./Attleboro HS) and a 46-yard completion from Guadagnoli to junior Chris Calvanese (Norfolk, Mass./Xaverian Bros. HS) quickly put the Falcons back in the red zone. However, the drive stalled and the visitors settled for a go-ahead 27-yard field goal by Baron.

Following a defensive stop, Bentley used a 12-play, 82-yard drive to extend its lead to 10, 34-24 with 9:53 left in the contest. There were two third-down conversions, including a 38-yarder from Guadagnoli to Hill on a third and four. That put the ball on the six-inch line and sophomore Martin Bannerman (Pawtucket, R.I./LaSalle Academy) took it in from there.

Gavalas and the Hawks responded with an 86-yard drive that included one of the team's three fourth-down conversions, an 11-yard pass on a fourth-and-four from the Bentley 25.

Guadagnoli, who eclipsed 7000 yards in career total offense, finished 21 of 41 for 247 yards, but threw his first interception in more than 100 attempts, dating back to last season. That came on the game's opening play from scrimmage and helped the Hawks score just 2:21 into the game.

Hill caught eight passes for 116 yards, Farkes finished with four catches, and Calvanese had three for 81. Craan led the ground game with 10 carries for 66 yards, and Walsh had a strong day returning kicks, averaging 23.5 on six returns.

Five different Falcons had ten or more tackles with sophomore linebacker  Bryan Hardy (Barnstable, Mass./Barnstable HS) topping the list with a dozen, including two for losses. Senior linebacker Kyle Young (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial HS) and sophomore safety Sam McDonald (Norfolk, Mass./King Phillip Reg. HS) each had 11 stops, and Bentley received ten apiece from McCarthy and senior corner Brad Keirstead (Waltham, Mass./Waltham HS).

Both senior Justin Bernard (Cambridge, Mass.) and Gomes had 100-yard receiving days for Saint Anselm, with Bernard 12 for 117 and Gomes seven for 112.

Saint Anselm came up just one yard shy of 500 in total offense while Bentley finished at 364 after the slow start. First downs also went in the Hawks' favor, 26-19, despite the Falcons converting eight of 16 on third down.

Bentley will be back at home next Saturday when it will celebrate Homecoming against the University of New Haven. Kickoff is at 2 pm.