NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Junior Nick Athy (Holliston/Holliston HS), sophomores Quintin McDermott (Franklin/Milton Academy) and classmate Derek Perkins (Milton/Milton HS) all made interceptions in the end zone to lead Bentley University to a 17-7 win over Merrimack College in Northeast-10 Conference football at humid Mejail-Martone Field Saturday afternoon.

Those three denials were among five takeaways for the Falcons on the day. Athy also recovered a fumble and McDermott had his second pick of the contest in the fourth quarter.

With its second straight conference victory, Bentley improved to 2-1 overall and 2-0 NE10. Merrimack, which spoiled the Falcons' shutout bid midway through the final stanza, dipped to 1-2 overall and 1-1 conference.

Two of Bentley's end zone picks put a halt to the Warriors' first two possessions of the game. The home team opened the game with a 58-yard completion by grad student CJ Scarpa (Andover), but five plays later, on a first and goal from the nine, Athy came up with Bentley's first interception of the season.

Bentley turned the ball over on its first possession as well with the Warriors regaining it on the Falcon 33. After an offensive pass interference penalty on Merrimack produced a first-and-25 from the 33, McDermott came up with his first career interception to thwart another scoring bid by the Warriors.

Another big defensive play for the Falcons during a scoreless opening quarter was a stop on a fourth-and-one from midfield by sophomore nose tackle Frank Damata (Framingham/Marian HS) and senior linebacker Rogers Boylan (Dover/Dover-Sherborn HS).

The only points of the first half were scored with 5:03 left until the break when sophomore Grant Buchanan (Holliston/Holliston HS) put his fourth field goal of the season through the uprights for the Falcons. That capped an eight-play, 72-yard drive that featured a 63-yard completion from senior QB Mack Lowrie (Foxborough/Roxbury Latin School) to freshman wide receiver Austin Ryan (Foxborough/ Foxborough HS).

After deferring to start the game, Bentley received the ball to begin the second half and used a 10-play, 74-yard drive to go up 10-0. Junior wide receiver Drew Mahoney (West Suffield, Conn./ Suffield Academy) had receptions of nine, 14 and 26 yards, Merrimack was flagged for pass interference and senior running back Martin Bannerman (Pawtucket, R.I./La Salle Academy) took it in from the seven for the first of his two touchdowns.

On the first play of the final quarter, Bannerman scored again, this time from two yards out, for a 17-0 Falcon lead. What proved to be a 76-yard drive was kept alive on another pass interference call against the home team on a fourth-and-one from the Warrior 19, as well as unsportsmanlike conduct on Merrimack that produced a first-and-goal at the two.

Merrimack's only points of the contest came with 8:16 left in the fourth, a two-yard run by senior tailback Derrick Villard (Cromwell, Conn.).

Despite giving up 435 yards of total offense, it was a strong effort by the Bentley D, which complemented its fumble recovery and four interceptions with four QB sacks, resulting in losses totaling 25 yards.

Sophomore corner Peter Thorbahn (Norwell/Xaverian Bros. HS) led Bentley in tackles with ten, one more than senior linebacker Aaron Chretien (Commerce Township, Mich./Walled Lake Northern HS) totaled. Chretien was also credited with a sack, 1.5 tackles for losses and a forced fumble.

For Bentley, which finished with 342 yards of offense, Lowrie was 18 for 34 for 217 yards. Mahoney caught eight for 82, Ryan had 93 receiving yards on three balls, and Bannerman gained 67 on 24 carries.

Scarpa finished 31 of 57 for 387 yards with junior wide receiver Cody Demers (Dracut) his favorite target, pulling in seven for 114 yards.

Bentley will be back at home next Saturday, hosting undefeated and nationally LIU Post in a 2 pm Homecoming Day game.