NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Tajon Vassar delivered early fireworks during the Northeast-10 championship game Saturday, but the Bentley football team lost at New Haven, 24-17, Saturday afternoon.

Vassar returned the game's opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, giving the Falcons an early 7-0 lead. Earlier this season in a non-conference home game against New Haven, Vassar set a school record with a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown (Sept. 9).

The Falcons' defense, which entered the game ranked fifth in the nation for fewest total yards allowed per game, forced the Chargers to go three-and-out in their first possession. However, New Haven tied the game, 7-7, in its second possession.

Neither offense got much traction for the rest of the first half, but Mason Campbell hit a 40-yard field goal late in the second quarter, giving Bentley a 10-7 edge heading into halftime.

New Haven reached the end zone five minutes into the third quarter, claiming its first lead of the game at 14-10. Bentley had an answer in its ensuing possession.

Starting at their own 21-yard line, the Falcons ran 16 plays from scrimmage – the final of which was a five-yard touchdown run by Mark Waid. Waid previously had a clutch five-yard rush on fourth-and-four during the drive. He also completed a 15-yard pass to Jonathan Oriakhi, bringing the Falcons from their side of the field to the Chargers'.

Waid's touchdown run allowed Bentley to take a 17-14 lead into the fourth quarter.

However, just a little over one minute into the fourth, New Haven connected on a 53-yard passing touchdown down the middle of the field, making it a 21-17 game in favor of the Chargers. The Falcons' ensuing possession ended with a punt.

Bentley's defense remained strong, and special teams came up big for the Falcons once more. Day Garcia blocked a Chargers punt that allowed the Falcons to take over on New Haven's 32-yard line.

From there, Bentley could muster only three yards, and it ended up turning the ball over on downs.

The Falcons had one more promising drive in the fourth quarter, and it started on their 36-yard line with 4:42 left in regulation – following a New Haven field goal. Vinnie Holmes took a couple of carries for a total of 15 yards. From there, New Haven's defense became more stout, and a holding penalty on the Falcons set the team back 10 yards. Bentley turned the ball over on downs with 90 seconds remaining, and it didn't get the ball back.

Holmes finished the game with a game-high 100 rushing yards on 20 carries. Waid totaled 69 yards on the ground, and 106 yards with his arm.

Salvatore Lupoli Jr. became Bentley's all-time leading tackler by recording 12 tackles against New Haven. He finishes his illustrious Bentley career with 337 tackles, surpassing the previous mark of 332 held by Bryan Hardy (2013-16).