WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley University senior safety Will Sheriffs (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS) has been named the Northeast-10 Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his outstanding effort in Friday night's big win over the University of New Haven.

Sheriffs set the tone for the Falcons with a 30-yard pick-six on the game's very first play from scrimmage, his first interception of the season, and later had four unassisted tackles and a forced fumble as Bentley knocked off the preseason favorite in the conference, 31-14.

Through three games for the 1-2 Falcons, Sheriffs is fifth on the team in tackles with 14, including 11 unassisted stops.

The former Gulf Coast High team captain has 39 career tackles, along with two interceptions and two forced fumbles. His previous interception came last October against Stonehill.

Also recognized for their efforts in the win over the Chargers were senior receiver Drew Mahoney (West Suffield, Conn./ Suffield Academy), junior quarterback Stephen Sturm (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley HS) and sophomore kick returner Isaiah Collins (Dorchester Center/Belmont Hill HS).

Sturm amassed 294 yards total offense. He completed 23 of 37 passes for 236 yards, no interceptions and one TD, and also scrambled for a career-high 58 yards on nine carries.

Mahoney caught 11 passes for 146 yards, including an NE10 season-long 79-yard TD that gave Bentley a 10-point lead in the third quarter. Mahoney, the NCAA Division II leader in passes caught per game this season, moved into fourth on Bentley's all-time list with 161 career receptions.

Collins had two long kickoff returns (66, 56 yards) and finished with three returns for 139 yards, an average of 46.3. His season norm of 28.3 ranks third best in the conference and 21st in Division II.

Bentley, 1-2, is back in action Saturday with a 12 noon game at Assumption College.