WALTHAM, Mass. – Seniors Matt Montalto (West Yarmouth/Dennis-Yarmouth HS) and Chris Calvanese (Norfolk/Xaverian Bros. HS) teamed up on a go-ahead 16-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter and grad student Evan Mattern (San Diego, Calif./Rancho Bernardo HS) led a strong defensive effort as Bentley University celebrated Homecoming with a 15-13 victory over Southern Connecticut State in Northeast-10 Conference football Saturday afternoon.

Bentley, after surrendering 13 unanswered points in the third quarter to fall behind 13-7, began its comeback effort with 8:25 remaining when a snap on an attempted punt by the Owls soared through the end zone for a safety. That came after the fourth of six three-and-outs for the Southern offense and reduced the deficit to four.

Following the free kick, Bentley took possession on its own 40. Montalto went deep to Calvanese on the first play, the 44-yard completion moving the ball into the red zone. The two teamed up once again on the ensuing snap with the TD pass the second of the afternoon for the Falcon QB and the touchdown Calvanese's first of 2015.

It remained a two-point game when the snap on the extra point attempt was mishandled, necessitating a running play that was unsuccessful.

Southern Connecticut, which had nine of its 15 first downs in the third quarter, was limited to two net yards on its next two possessions before Bentley regained the ball with 3:39 left. Led by senior running back George Craan (Hyde Park/Concord-Carlisle HS), the Falcons were able to run out the clock with Craan gaining for 21 yards on six carries and Montalto closing out the game by converting a fourth-and-one for a game-ending first down.

Bentley's first touchdown, coming about six minutes into the contest, followed the first of three strips on sacks for the Falcons. Senior defensive end Paul Norris (North Attleboro/North Attleboro HS) made the stop 11 yards behind the line of scrimmage and Mattern (two forced fumbles, one recovery) came up with the loose ball on the Southern 38.

Four plays after a 31-yarder from Montalto to Calvanese put the ball on the seven, Montalto found grad student and tight end Alex Farkes (Boston/BB&N) for the seven-yard TD pass.

It remained 7-0 throughout the rest of the first half despite Mattern twice forcing fumbles on sacks. One was recovered by senior Quincy Giles (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathrdral HS) at the Bentley 42 and the other by Norris at the Bentley 39.

The Owls (0-3, 0-2 NE-10) struck for their two touchdowns in the first nine minutes of the second half with the two Southern possessions separated by a Montalto interception. Senior running back Robert Thomas (Brooklyn, N.Y.) finished a 10-play, 90-yard drive with a one-yard run for the first TD and Robert Nittolo (Hillsborough, N.J.) threw a 16-yard TD pass to junior Devante Jenkins (Carson, Calif.) for the second score.

While Southern had a 15-13 edge in first downs, Bentley had a slight edge in total yards, 253-217 with a 75-64 advantage on the ground and 26 more via the air, 178-152. Montalto competed half of his 30 passes with Calvanese leading the receiving corps with 108 yards on four receptions. Craan was the top rusher, gaining 41 yards on 18 carries.

Mattern's final numbers from his linebacker position were six tackles, 2.5 loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and a QB hurry. Junior linebacker Bryan Hardy (Barnstable/ Barnstable HS) led the Falcons with nine tackles, and Norris provided a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Bentley also received seven tackles apiece from junior linebacker Jack Sarnoski (Lancaster/Nashoba Reg. HS) and sophomore linebacker Brandon Brown (Oxon Hill, Md./Suitland HS).

For Southern, Thomas rushed for 70 yards and Jenkins pulled in 11 balls for 110 yards, accounting for the large majority of Nittolo's completions. The red-shirt freshman finished 14 of 26 for 152 yards.

Bentley, 1-2 overall and 1-1 NE-10, plays its next two on the road, beginning next Saturday at Merrimack College.