WALTHAM, Mass. – Sophomore linebacker Nydair Rouse (Philadelphia, Pa.) capped a 17-point fourth quarter for West Chester University with a 35-yard pick-six that gave the Golden Rams a 31-24 season-opening non-conference win over Bentley University Saturday afternoon at Bentley.

The loss spoiled a two-interception, eight-tackle afternoon for Bentley senior safety Sam McDonald (Norfolk/King Philip Regional HS).  He now has 16 interceptions for his career, moving into a tie for second on the Falcons' all-time list.

Bentley, which held the lead for nearly 42 minutes of the game, went into the final stanza with a 10-point advantage, 24-14, over the preseason favorites in the East Division of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. However, the Falcons couldn't get anything done offensively in the fourth, totaling only 48 yards on five possessions.

West Chester, which has only eight losses since the start of the 2013 season, drew within three in the opening minute of the fourth when junior quarterback Andrew Derr (Willow Grove, Pa.) connected with senior Shannon Meyer (Norristown, Pa.) on an 11-yard scoring pass.

On its next possession, the Golden Rams used a 29-yard field goal from sophomore Brendan Paulison (Milford, Pa.) to tie the game up with 8:03 remaining. That finished a nine-play, 56-yard drive that included a Derr fumble recovery and a 32-yard completion on a third-and-ten.

It stayed that way until West Chester defensive end John Dubyk (Sellersville, Pa.) deflected a pass from senior QB CJ Scarpa (Andover/Andover HS). The ball went right to Rouse and he took it the distance for the decisive score.

Bentley had two more possessions but failed to gain a first down on either one.

The Falcons got on the scoreboard first, a 28-yard field goal by freshman Grant Buchanan (Holliston/Holliston HS) midway through the opening quarter. Bentley had taken possession at the Golden Ram 13 after McDonald returned an interception 26 yards and a West Chester personal foul was tacked on at the end of the play.

After West Chester grabbed a 7-3 lead on the opening play of the second, Bentley answered with a 10-play, 74-yard drive with senior running back Martin Bannerman, Jr. (Pawtucket, R.I./La Salle Academy) taking it in from about the two-inch line. The drive featured a 32-yard completion on a third-down play from junior Mack Lowrie (Foxborough/Roxbury Latin HS) to senior Sean Myers (Foxborough/Roxbury Latin HS), a pair of former high school teammates.

Following a defensive start, Bentley sophomore Drew Mahoney (West Suffield, Conn./Suffield Academy) broke loose for 92 yards, sprinting down the left sideline untouched. The longest rushing play in the program's 29-year varsity history gave the Falcons their first 10-point lead, 17-7.

A couple pivotal moments came later in the second quarter, Lowrie fumbling at the West Chester 25 after running for 13 yards on a third-and-seven. Bentley stopped the Golden Rams on the ensuing possession, but a costly personal foul penalty for leaping erased a punt and gave West Chester a first down at its own 39. Six plays later, with 49 seconds left in the half, junior Pat Moritarty (Harriton, Pa.) made it a three-point contest, 17-14, with an 11-yard pass to junior Tyler Karpinski (Lancaster, Pa.).

The only scoring of the third came with 4:06 on the clock, Scarpa teaming up with grad student Chris Calvanese (Norfolk/Xaverian Brothers HS) on a nine-yard TD pass.  That came right after sophomore Michael Correia (Fall River/Durfee HS) pulled in a 24-yarder on the left sideline for a first-and-goal.

Scarpa finished 18 of 33 through the air for 161 yards while Lowrie, who missed the second half due to injury, was five of seven for 85 yards. Calvanese and Mahoney each caught six passes and Mahoney had a total of 146 all-purpose yards.

Derr was the most effective of the two West Chester quarterbacks, completing 12 of 19 for 169 yards. Moriarty, the starter, was just one of 12 with three interceptions.

McDonald's eight tackles was matched by senior linebacker Bryan Hardy (Barnstable/Barnstable HS) and senior safety Junior Chery (Waltham/Waltham HS). In addition to the two picks by McDonald, freshman corner Peter Thorbahn (Norwell/Xaverian Brothers HS) also had one for the Falcons.

Both teams finished with 17 first downs and Bentley had a slight edge in total yards, 407-391.

Bentley will face exclusively Northeast-10 competition the next ten weeks, beginning Saturday at Saint Anselm College (4 pm).