Kevin Dick caught a career-high 11 passes for a career-high matching 96 yards. (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard) |
Falcons score on three short fields in second quarter to take control
WALTHAM, Mass. (October 22, 2016) – Bentley University scored 20 points off three short field possessions in the second quarter on its way to a 27-7 triumph over Stonehill College in Northeast-10 Conference football action at Bentley Field today.
Stonehill outgained its opponent for the fifth straight week, but dropped its second straight road game by losing the field position game in the first half. The Skyhawks posted 272 yards of total offense, with 195 passing and 77 rushing, recorded a 19-10 advantage in first downs, had 20 more plays on offense (74-54) and won the possession battle for the eighth time in as many games this season and 18th time over the last 19 dating back to last season, at 34:59 this afternoon. However, Bentley broke open a scoreless game after a quarter with three touchdowns on consecutive possessions in the second quarter with an average starting field position of the Stonehill 15.
Freshman defensive back Peter Thorbahn (Norwell, Massachusetts/Xaverian Brothers) les a Bentley defense which forced three turnovers with a game-high 13 tackles (11 solo) and two pass breakups. Junior Brandon Brown (Oxon Hill, Maryland/Suitland) added ten tackles (five solo), including 2.0 for a loss of seven yards, with 1.0 sacks, while senior Lamar Hardy (Centreville, Virginia/Westfield) registered five stops (four solo), an interception and three breakups. Senior defensive lineman Phil Rigoglioso (Ridgewood, New Jersey/Bergen Catholic) chipped in with 2.0 sacks for a loss of nine yards as part of a seven tackle performance.
Junior quarterback Mack Lowrie (Foxboro, Massachusetts/Roxbury Latin) completed just 9-of-15 passes for 125 yards, but three of the nine completions went for touchdowns, two of which went to senior Sean Myers (Foxboro, Massachusetts/Roxbury Latin) who finished with four receptions for 28 yards. Sophomore Michael Correia (Fall River, Massachusetts/Durfee) chipped in with two catches for 83 yards and a score.
Junior wide receiver Kevin Dick (Tewksbury, Massachusetts/Tewksbury Memorial) posted a career-high 11 receptions for a career-high matching 96 yards (set last week), while freshman Brian Kearns, Jr. (North Arlington, New Jersey/Saint Joseph Regional) posted season-highs with 13 carries and 52 yards on the ground, scoring a touchdown for the second straight week. Junior quarterback Matt Foltz (Mount Joy, Pennsylvania/The Hill School) completed 21-of-38 passes for 173 yards, was sacked four times and intercepted three.
Kibarian recorded a career-high nine tackles, including a career-best three for a loss. (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard) |
Senior defensive lineman Andrew Kibarian (Lynnfield, Massachusetts/Lynnfield) paced the Stonehill defensive with a career-high nine tackles (five solo), including a career-best 3.0 for a loss of seven yards. Sophomore John Ejiofor (Burlington Township, New Jersey/Burlington Township) registered six stops (all solo), including 3.0 for a loss of six, while senior Ryan Doherty (Methuen, Massachusetts/Central Catholic) added seven stops (five solo), including 1.5 for a loss of three and a blocked kick. Senior Mark Trudeau (Duxbury, Massachusetts/Duxbury) chipped in 1.0 sacks, a forced fumble and fumble recovery, while junior Donovan Phanor (Portsmouth, New Hampshire/Portsmouth) had an interception and pass breakup.
Bentley claimed the win with just 176 total yards, 125 passing and 51 on the ground, and ten first downs. Stonehill took the opening kickoff and marched to the Bentley 32 on just five plays, behind 33 rushing yards from junior running back Dylan Brown (Tinton Falls, New Jersey/Monmouth Regional), but senior Sam McDonald (Norfolk, Massachusetts/King Philip) intercepted Foltz at the 14 on second and 12.
Neither team effectively moved the ball the remainder of the first quarter, but Bentley received its first short field on its first second quarter drive following a 27-yard Stonehill punt from deep in its own territory that was returned by McDonald ten yards to the Skyhawks 33. The Falcons opened the scoring three plays later when Lowrie connected with Correia for a 27-yard touchdown pass on third and four 3:32 into the frame.
Bentley turned Foltz's second interception of the afternoon into points when Hardy picked him off at the Falcons 48 and returned it 47 yards to the Stonehill five. Lowrie found Myers in the end zone for a six yard touchdown toss two plays later for a 14-0 lead. The Falcons forced a three and out on the Skyhawks next possession and then blocked the punt, which was recovered at the Stonehill 30 and returned 14 yards to the 16 by junior Kyle Wisnieski (Mansfield, Massachusetts/Mansfield). Senior running back Matt Montalto (West Yarmouth, Massachusetts/Dennis-Yarmouth) scored three plays later with a five yard rush to stretch the lead to 20-0 after the extra point was blocked.
Kearns, Jr., scored a touchdown for the second straight week. |
Stonehill gained some momentum heading into the lockerroom at halftime when Kearns, Jr. scored on a 12 yard touchdown run with 57-seconds left in the half at the end of a ten play, 70-yard drive. Foltz delivered four first down completions on second down to move the Skyhawks down the field for what would prove to be its lone touchdown of the game.
Bentley opened the second half with its only sustained scoring drive of the game when Lowrie capped a seven play, 67-yard possession with a six yard touchdown toss to Myers 3:28 in. Sophomore Jerel Archer (Reisterstown, Maryland/The Boys' Latin School of Maryland) took the ensuing kickoff 55-yards to the Falcons 36, but Stonehill was unable to get a first down, turning the ball over on downs.
Stonehill forced a key fumble late in the third quarter, getting the ball at the Bentley 25, and moved inside the Falcons ten before again turning the ball over on downs early in the fourth. The Skyhawks would again turn the ball over on downs inside Falcons territory on their next possession, before Bentley intercepted its third pass of the afternoon on their final possession of the game to seal the win.
Both teams finished 3-for-14 on third down in the game, with Stonehill going 1-for-4 on fourth and Bentley converting 1-of-2 fourth down attempts.
Stonehill (3-5, 3-4 NE-10) is back in action next Saturday when it hosts nationally-ranked Assumption College for Senior Day at W.B. Mason Stadium at 1 p.m. Bentley (5-3, 5-2 NE-10) visits Southern Connecticut State University next Saturday at 3 p.m.
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