WALTHAM, Mass. – A 14-point second quarter, featuring a 30-yard pick-six by junior cornerback Matt Severance (Lynn/Lynn English HS) and a 36-yard TD catch by Noah Neville (Boston/Newton North HS), propelled Bentley University to a 17-7 halftime lead and the Falcons went on to post a 24-14 Homecoming Day victory over Stonehill College in Northeast-10 Conference football Saturday afternoon before more than 3,700 fans.

Bentley, 2-0 in conference, improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2012 and extended its winning streak to eight games, the program's longest since an 11-game streak from 2002-03.

After Stonehill missed the first of three long field goal attempts (all ranging from 46-50 yards), Bentley was the first team to get on the scoreboard. Sophomore Mason Campbell (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier HS) finished a ten-play drive with a 23-yard field goal, the first of his career.

The Skyhawks (2-1, 1-1 NE10) answered on the following drive with All-America running back Justin Felder (Hollis, N.Y.) scoring his ninth TD of the season on a six-yard run with nine seconds to play in the first.

Severance, with his first career interception and TD, put Bentley in front to stay when he picked off Stonehill QB Anton Stoneking (Clayton, N.C.) at the Skyhawk 30 and sprinted to the end zone untouched. About five minutes later, Neville pulled in a scoring strike from senior QB Stephen Sturm (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley HS) for a 17-7 Falcon advantage. It was his second TD of the season and 11^th of his career.

Coach Bill Kavanaugh's team made it a three-possession game with 9:42 left on the fourth-quarter clock. Junior tailback Nathaniel Larkins (Huntington, N.Y./John Glenn HS) finished an eight-play, 52-yard run by taking it up the middle from the four.

Felder, who carried the ball 26 times for 125 yards, completed the game's TD with a four-yard run with 4:22 remaining.

Both teams had averaged over 40 points and 400 yards total offense in the season's first two games, but the defenses largely kept the offenses in check.

In addition to Severance taking it to the house, the Bentley D received standout performances from senior Cedie Dashiell II (Buena Park, Calif./Buena Park HS) and grad student Cole McCubrey (Boylston/Tahanto Reg. HS). Dashiell II had 3.5 sacks, making this the eighth straight game he's had at least one, as well as a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. McCubrey, a UMass transfer, led the Falcons with 14 tackles and he also forced a fumble.

Stonehill was held to 320 yards total offense, 11:22 of second-half possession time and only 5 of 17 on third down conversions. The Skyhawks turned the ball over three times in addition to missing the three field goal tries.

Bentley gained the victory despite only 236 yards total offense and 12 first downs. Larkins led the ground attack with 92 yards on 22 carries.

Next Saturday, Bentley will be in Springfield to take on American International. Kickoff is set for 12 noon.