WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Sophomore quarterback Paul Dooley (Philadelphia, Pa.) threw three TD passes in the first two-and-a-half quarters, covering 38, 21 and 10 yards, as West Chester University took care of Bentley University, 51-9, in non-conference college football Thursday night at John Farrell stadium. It was the season-opener for both clubs.

Dooley finished 12 of 15 for 183 yards before giving way to Syracuse and Wagner transfer A.J. Long (Bethlehem, Pa.) in the third. Long threw the fourth TD pass for the 25th-ranked Golden Rams, a 43-yarder on his first snap for West Chester.

The night, and season, started out on a positive note for Bentley, with senior QB Mack Lowrie (Foxborough, Mass./Roxbury Latin School) connecting with freshman wide receiver Austin Ryan (Foxborough, Mass./Foxboro HS) on a 47-yard pass on the initial play from scrimmage.

The 12-play drive eventually stalled on the West Chester eight, but sophomore Grant Buchanan (Holliston, Mass./Holliston HS) came through with a 25-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 9:59 on the first quarter clock. It included a fourth-down conversion run by senior Martin Bannerman (Pawtucket, R.I./La Salle Academy), a one-yard gain to the WC 21.

West Chester answered on its opening possession, junior Mark Dukes (Pottstown, Pa.) capping a five-play drive with a 57-yard scoring burst.

The tally stood at 14-3 after the first quarter, the second TD scoring on Dooley's 38-yard pass to junior Jordan Banks (Harrisburg, Pa.).

West Chester matched its 14-point first quarter in the second. Dooley teamed up with junior tight end Simon Williams (Lititz, Pa.) on a 21-yard scoring pass and senior Jarel Elder (Parkland, Pa.) capped the first-half scoring with a two-yard run.

The home team broke it wide open in the third, striking for 23 unanswered points. Dooley and Long threw TD passes 90 seconds apart, sophomore Andrew Chegia (Kennett Square, Pa.) kicked a 26-yard field goal and senior defensive end George Shipp (Harleysville, Pa.) recovered a fumble at the Bentley two and took it in for the score.

That would take care of the scoring until Bentley freshman Andrew Brazicki (Franklin Park, N.J./ Bishop Ahr HS) finished the game with a one-yard run after the Falcons took a timeout with seven-tenths of a second remaining. That was a 78-yard drive that featured a 36-yard reception by junior Mike Correia (Fall River/Durfee HS).

Senior Tyler Karpinski (Lancaster, Pa.) was West Chester's top receiver (6 for 80, one TD) while Dukes was the game's top rusher with 82 in seven attempts.

Lowrie finished 13 of 25 with 120 yards with Ryan (3 for 54) and Correia (3 for 52) Bentley's leading receivers. Bannerman Jr. topped the Falcons in rushing with 42 net yards in 11 carries. Ryan totaled 152 all-purpose yards as he also had five kickoff returns for 98 yards.

Bentley's leading tacklers were senior linebackers Brandon Brown (Oxon Hill, Md./Suitland HS) and Rogers Boylan (Dover/Dover-Sherborn HS), both with seven. Sophomore Derek Perkins (Milton/ Milton HS) was credited with the Falcons' only takeaway, a fumble recovery.

West Chester, which owns a seven-game winning streak dating back to last year, totaled 478 yards of offense, averaging better than seven per play. Meanwhile, they held Bentley to just 213, including 70 on the opening march and 77 on the final one. West Chester had nearly twice as many first downs, 23-12, and Bentley had three turnovers to the Rams' one.

Bentley will look to rebound Sept. 8 when the Falcons open their Northeast-10 and home schedule against Saint Anselm under the Friday night lights.