WALTHAM, Mass. – The Bentley University Falcons will be back in action Friday night when they'll be in Pleasantville, N.Y. to take on the Pace University Setters. Kickoff at the newly-refurbished Pace Stadium is set for 7 pm with video links available at www.bentleyfalcons.com.

Coach Bill Kavanaugh's Falcons, 1-3 overall and 1-2 Northeast-10, will be looking to get back on track after suffering through a 41-10 road loss to Merrimack College on Saturday. The Warriors grabbed a lead they never relinquished on a pick-six in the second minute and blanked the visitors over the final 38 minutes after Bentley put up 10 points in the first 6:15 of the second.

The play of junior running back Martin Bannerman (Pawtucket, R.I./La Salle Academy) was a plus for the Falcons during week four as he produced his second 100-yard rushing performance of the year. He muscled his way to 111 yards, averaging nearly seven yards a carry, and rushed for Bentley's only TD of the game. That 36-yarder was the team's longest rush of the season as well as the Falcons' longest scoring play of 2015.

Success in the red zone proved to be a major difference in the contest. While Bentley managed only a field goal in four trips, Merrimack capitalized every time it penetrated the Falcon 20, coming away with four touchdowns and a pair of field goals. The Falcons are still looking for their first red-zone stop of 2015 with the opponents having 13 TD and three FG in their 16 trips.

Pace, also 1-3 overall with the lone win coming in its opener against NAIA opponent Ave Maria, has been outscored 143-36 in its three conference games to date. Those three opponents – Stonehill, Assumption and Saint Anselm – own a combined 9-3 record thus far.

Against Merrimack, the Falcons managed only ten points despite setting season highs for total offense (408), total plays (87) and first downs (25). There were four drives of 10 plays or more in the last two-and-a-half quarters that ended without Bentley scoring a point. There was a lost fumble at the Merrimack 20 and possessions ending on downs at the Warrior 19, 37 and two.

Senior Matt Montalto (West Yarmouth/Dennis-Yarmouth Reg. HS), in his first season as the Falcons' starter at QB, has completed 54 percent of his passes for 666 yards, four touchdowns and a like number of interceptions. He also has 74 net rushing yards, a number held down as the result of 11 sacks the last three weeks.

Tight end Alex Farkes (Boston/BB&N), a graduate student, and senior Chris Calvanese (Norfolk/ Xaverian Bros. HS) have been Montalto's primary targets.  Farkes has pulled in 16 balls for 190 yards and two scores while Calvanese has 14 for 188 and one TD.

Junior Tyler Ford (Amherst, N.H./Souhegan HS) had another solid game punting on Saturday, averaging 46.0 on his three attempts. That raised his season norm to 44.2, fifth best nationally in Division II, with 10 of his 17 placed inside the 20.

Senior linebacker Bryan Hardy (Barnstable/Barnstable HS), who notched his 150th career tackle in Saturday's game, continues to lead the Falcons in that category with 31. The others who have at least 20 so far this fall are senior corner Emmitt Smith (Derry, N.H./Lawrence Academy) and senior linebacker Matt McDermott (Merrimac/Central Catholic HS).

Pace has four freshmen listed as starters on its two-deep, including quarterback Dan Anerella. He's spent much of his time handing off with only 57 pass attempts in his first four games. Anerella has thrown for 207 yards while completing 44 percent of his passes. 

An interesting stat on Pace is that the Setters have as many return touchdowns this season (5) as they do from scrimmage (4 rushing, 1 passing). Jamir Gee has brought back both a kickoff and a punt the distance, and Micah Hunter has two of his team's three pick-sixes this season. Of the five returns for scores, three came in the opener against Ave Maria.

Delaney Wallace is number two in the Northeast-10 in rushing yards per carry, averaging 7.6, but did not get the ball in last week's game against Assumption. Included in his 243 yards have been a 57-yard gain against Saint Anselm and 54 yards against Ave Maria for his only TD. 

Bentley will be looking for its 13th consecutive win over Pace, a streak that began in back in 2002. Three of the last four have been shutouts, including a 31-0 decision a year ago.

Following the trip to New York, Kavanaugh's team will be back in Waltham for games against Saint Anselm (Oct. 10) and American International (Oct. 17).