Worcester, Mass. (November 1) -- In a back-and-forth overtime game on a rainy Senior Day, the Assumption College football team dropped a 30-24 final to visiting Bentley in Northeast-10 Conference play on Saturday afternoon. Prior to the game, the Hounds recognized 22 seniors who were playing in their final regular-season home game.

After a scoreless first quarter, Bentley got on the board with 10:07 left in the second as junior Michael Baron knocked a 32-yard field goal thru for the 3-0 lead. On third and goal on that drive, the Falcons were forced to attempt a field goal following a sack by Assumption senior Derrick Mann (Sharon, Mass./Sharon). Mann currently leads the Northeast-10 and ranks among the national leaders in Division 2 with 12 sacks this season.

Assumption answered on the ensuing drive though as a long run by senior Matt Heriveaux (Everett, Mass./Malden Catholic) got the Hounds into the red zone. The Hounds converted that into points on a spectacular touchdown run by junior James Ward (New Haven, Conn./Williston Northampton) for the 7-3 lead. Ward was nearly tackled in the backfield, but somehow fought off the tacklers and scrambled to his left and in for the 13-yard touchdown.

Bentley regained the lead with 4:20 remaining in the first half as George Craan scored on a four-yard rush up the middle for the 10-7 Falcon advantage. The TD capped a 10-play, 73-yard drive that was keyed by a 40-yard reception by Sean Myers to get Bentley into Assumption territory.

After a quiet start to the third quarter, the Hounds were ready to go for it on fourth down and two with just under five minutes left. An offsides penalty on the Falcon defense kept the drive alive though and Heriveaux made it first and goal for Assumption from the 10. The Hounds tied it up with 3:01 on the clock as senior Tad Beuchert (Danvers, Mass./St. John's Prep) booted a 29-yard field goal to tie the game at 10.

The Falcons took the lead again with 11:25 left in the fourth as Craan went over the top from one yard out for the 17-10 lead. Bentley drove the ball to the three for a first and goal before scoring on the third-down play. Bentley continued to push the pace offensively, using a 32-yard pass from Danny Guadagnoli to Myers to put the Falcons in the red zone at the Assumption 13.

After a Baron 22-yard field goal attempt went wide left with 6:35 remaining, the Hounds turned the ensuing drive into points to tie the game up at 17-17. That drive was led by big plays from junior Dave Call (Springville, N.Y./Saint Francis) and Heriveaux, along with a 24-yard catch across the middle by freshman Ashton Grant (Manchester, Conn./Manchester). Heriveaux busted up the middle to get the ball down to the one, where junior quarterback Trevor Vasey (Cumberland, R.I./St. Raphael's Academy) went over the top with 3:18 on the clock for the score.

The Falcons threatened to win the game in regulation, driving into Assumption territory to the 48 after a 12-yard catch by Alex Farkes with 1:17 left. Bentley got all the way down to the 28-yard line and faced a fourth down and six with 19 seconds left, but Mann pressured Guadagnoli and sophomore Jarrod Casey (Milford, Mass./Bridgton Academy) broke up the pass as the game went to overtime.

In overtime, Bentley struck on the first play as Guadagnoli found a wide open Jeff Hill across the middle for the 25-yard score and the brief lead. On Assumption's first possession, the Hounds faced third down before Vasey found Heriveaux on a screen pass for the 23-yard touchdown. Heriveaux caught the ball on the right side, broke thru a number of defenders and fought his way into the end zone.

In the final overtime, Vasey was picked off by Blaine Hopwood to set up the game-winning possession for Bentley. On second down and goal from the two, Martin Bannerman flipped over the top of the line and into the end zone to cap off the win.

For Assumption, Heriveaux led the rushing attack with 108 yards on 14 carries to go along with his 23-yard touchdown reception. Senior Eddy Frazier (Worcester, Mass./Burncoat) had a team-high three receptions for 32 yards, while Beuchert accounted for six points on a field goal and a perfect 3-for-3 in extra-point chances.

On the Bentley side, Craan paced the offense with 106 yards on the ground and two touchdowns, while Guadagnoli was 22-for-43 for 278 yards with one interception and one touchdown. Hill was the leading receiver with seven catches for 89 yards.

Defensively, Mann and sophomore Nick Valenti (Troy, N.Y./Troy) led the Hounds with 11 tackles each, including a game-high eight solo stops by Mann. He also added a sack, 1.5 tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries. Kyle Young led Bentley in the game with a nine-tackle effort that included six solo stops.

As a team, Bentley owned a 452-266 yard edge in total offense, including 278-110 in the air. The Falcons also dominated the time of possession, holding the ball for over 38 minutes in the win.

With the loss, Assumption drops to 5-4 overall and 5-3 in the Northeast-10, while Bentley has now won three straight to improve to 4-5 overall and 3-5 in the league.

Assumption caps off the 2014 regular season on Saturday, November 8th as the Hounds travel to Stonehill for a Noon start at W.B. Mason Stadium in Easton, Mass.

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