WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley University juniors Bryan Hardy (Barnstable/Barnstable HS) and Tyler Ford (Amherst, N.H./Souhegan HS) have been recognized by the Northeast-10 Conference for their outstanding play during Saturday's 10-6 win over American International College.

Hardy, an inside linebacker, became the third Falcon this season to be selected as the NE-10 Defensive Player of the Year, following senior linebacker Evan Mattern (San Diego, Calif./Rancho Bernardo HS) and junior safety Sam McDonald (Norfolk/King Philip Reg. HS). Ford, the Falcons' punter, was the choice for NE-10 Special Teams Player of the Week.

Both players were honored for the second time in their careers. Hardy was previously the NE-10 Defensive Player of the Week Nov. 17, 2014 and Ford previously received special teams recognition Nov. 4, 2013.

Hardy had a team-leading 11 tackles, a quarterback hurry and a tackle for loss as Bentley held AIC to 139 net yards and 2.0 per play in a 10-6 victory.  Nine of the Yellow Jackets' 12 possessions were for nine yards or less, with three resulting in negative yardage.

Hardy, Bentley's leading tackler for the second straight year, has 59 stops so far this season, ninth best in the NE-10, after finishing with 103 last fall.  

Ford set a Bentley single game record for punting average for the second straight week as he averaged 46.2 on five kicks, with three inside the 20 and a long of 59. On his five punts, AIC's average starting position was their own 15.

Currently ninth in Division II in punting, Ford has averaged 43.2 yards this season, nearly four yards above the school record 39.5 norm he posted in 2014.

Bentley, 4-3 overall and riding a three-game conference winning streak, plays its next two on the road, beginning Saturday at Stonehill College.