WALTHAM, Mass. – After putting the defensive clamps on the Franklin Pierce Ravens, the Saint Anselm Hawks and the Assumption Greyhounds the last three weeks, the Bentley University Falcons will return home to host the Southern Connecticut State University Owls Saturday during Homecoming and Falcon Weekend. Kickoff is set for 2 pm.

For those who can't attend, the game will be streamed live over the NE10 NOW digital network (NE10NOW.tv).

Bentley, which will be attempting to extend its winning streak to four, is coming off a hard-fought 10-3 win over Assumption University, the Greyhounds' first loss of the season to a Division II opponent. Senior running back Nate Larkins (Huntington, N.Y./John Glenn HS) scored the game's only TD during the second quarter and junior Mason Campbell (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier HS) provided insurance with a career-best 45-yard field goal with 4:27 left in the third.

Junior linebacker Salvatore Lupoli Jr. (Chelmsford/Chelmsford HS), the Defensive Player of the Week in the Northeast-10, played a key role in containing Assumption. He recovered a fumble in the first quarter, on the Hounds' only snap of the afternoon in the red zone, and clinched the victory with an interception with two minutes remaining.

Southern Connecticut, 1-6 overall and 1-3 NE10, gained its first win of the season Saturday, 37-20 over Franklin Pierce. The victory included an 82-yard punt return by Tylon Papallo and three field goals, with a long of 37, by Szymon Gawlick.

The string of recent defensive successes, which includes only one TD allowed by the defense in the last 14 quarters, has elevated coach Alvin Reynolds' Falcons to one of the stingiest in Division II. They rank third in yards allowed (224.0), fourth in points allowed (10.6). fifth in red zone defense (.562), sixth in first downs allowed (12.5) and ninth in third down conversions (.262).

Lupoli, Jr. continues to lead the Northeast-10 in tackles with his 9.4 average good for 21^st nationally in Division II. Senior Cedric Dashiell II (Buena Park, Calif./Buena Park HS) is number one in the conference in sacks (6.5) and is tied for the Division II lead in forced fumbles with four. Among active D2 players, he is first in career forced fumbles (11) and seventh in sacks (26.5).

Senior corner Jailen Branch (Randolph/Milton Academy), a member of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, is tied for the conference high in interceptions (4).

Assumption, which completed only 12 of 34 passes against the Falcon D, became the sixth consecutive team held to less than 300 total yards by Bentley.

The Bentley offense has featured graduate quarterback Mark Waid (Cortland, Ohio/Girard HS), Larkins and sophomore Isaiah Decias (Ozone Park, N.Y./Hudson Catholic HS). Waid has thrown for 1,145 yards and 13 touchdowns, and is also one of only two NE10 players with at least 500 rushing yards.

Larkins (417 yards) is tied for second in the conference in touchdowns (7) and Decias has taken over the team lead in receiving (14 for 259). Against Assumption, he had a 77-yard reception that included 71 yards after catch.

The Bentley offense, which is second in the NE10 in scoring (29.7) and total yards (356.4), has controlled the ball for at least 32 minutes in all five wins, including 34:50 at Assumption.

Special teams have been a plus for the Falcons all season with Campbell the NE10's top scorer with 52 points, including nine field goals in 11 attempts. Senior punter Charlie Ogletree (Needham/Needham HS) was forced to punt nine times at Assumption and dropped five inside the 20, including three inside the five. Decias has been steady in kickoff returns, averaging 23 yards.

Southern, under the leadership of longtime head coach Tom Godek, has faced a difficult schedule with their opponents including unbeaten Shepherd College, once-beaten New Haven, Assumption and Division I Bryant. The Owls have allowed 430 yards, 33 points and 22.1 first downs a game.

Mark Reall is expected to start at quarterback for Southern. He's passed for 631 yards and five TDs with a .452 completion rate. The Owls have also used Joe Bernard (577 yards, 2 TD) behind center.

Diante Wilson has been the team's top rusher (348 yards, 2 TD) and Tylon Papallo is the number one receiver with 28 catches for 490 yards and four TD.

The last four Bentley-Southern Connecticut games have been won by the road team with the Falcons prevailing in New Haven last year and in 2018 and the Owls winning on their last two trips to Waltham (2019, 2017). All-time, Bentley leads the series, 14-9.

Last year, in a 34-20 Falcon win, Stephen Sturm threw four TD passes, including two to Abel Lopes Jr. (Scituate/Scituate HS).

After a bye next week, Bentley will host American International Nov. 5 in the final home game of the season.

BENTLEY BRIEFS: Since the middle of the 2019 season, Bentley has a 19-4 record, including 10-1 at home … Bentley has 16 takeaways this season, including 11 the last three games … on fourth downs this season, the Falcon offense is 9 of 13 and the opponents are only 5 of 17 … senior wide receiver Noah Neville (Boston/Newton North HS) remains four catches shy of 100 for his career … Bentley has 15 plays from scrimmage this year that have been good for 30 yards or more, with Decias' 77-yard reception against Assumption a season-best. Waid has connected with six different receivers on gains of 30 yards or more … Bentley is 5-1 in its last six Homecoming games, including a 24-14 win over Stonehill last year, and is 25-7 on Homecoming since the program was elevated to varsity status in 34 years ago … this is the third time in four weeks that Bentley is playing in a Homecoming Game. The Falcons spoiled Assumption's last week and Franklin Pierce's earlier in the month.