Box Score THE BASICS
-Score: Bentley University 40, Assumption University 28
-Records: Assumption (0-2), Bentley (2-0)
Location: Worcester, Mass. (Brian Kelly '83 Stadium)
The Lead: The Assumption University football team returned home for their first game at Brian Kelly '83 Stadium in over 670 days. The first half was a back-and-forth battle with big plays on both sides, sending the teams tied at 14 heading into the half time break. After trading scores in the third quarter, Bentley used a big run for a touchdown and a fumble recovery to put the Falcons up by two scores and secured the victory. The Greyhounds are back home next Saturday, September 18, to host Pace at 1pm.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-Bentley started off the scoring on their first drive on 3rd and 9 off a screen pass from senior quarterback, Stephen Sturm to graduate student, Andrew Brazicki took it down the right sideline for a 69-yard touchdown
-Assumption drove down the field and had help from multiple Bentley penalties. A potential interception was called back due to defensive pass interference in the Bentley endzone and Assumption had a second chance to score. The Falcons defense held strong and forced the Hounds offense to attempt a 21-yard field goal. The Falcons special teams unit then blocked the FG attempt from the Hounds and recovered the ball on their own 10-yard line.
-The very next play, Sturm looked to move the ball quick and his pass attempt on the right side was intercepted by red-shirt junior Isaiah Huff (Windsor, Conn. / Milford Academy) and taken to the endzone to even the score at 7.
-After trading a few defensive stops to end the first quarter, Assumption senior quarterback, Easton Turner (Ashburn, Va. / Stone Bridge) found tight end Tighe Beck (Wakefield, Mass. / Wakefield Memorial) for a 27yard gain and then a penalty on top put the Hounds at the Bentley 15-yard line. On second and 14, Turner found junior Brevin Easton (Odenton, Md. / Archbishop Spalding) in the back right corner of the endzone, his first of the year, to put the Hounds up after the PAT, 14-7.
-After gritty defense from both sides resulting in multiple punts and not a lot of offense in the second quarter, Bentley got the ball back with 1:49 to go on their own 21 looking to work quick and tie things before the half.
-After a big gain run from Brazicki and a few penalties, Sturm was able to find Cedie Dashiell II in the endzone to tie the game after the converted PAT with 17 second left in the half.
-At the 9:00 mark in the 3rd quarter with Bentley on the Assumption 15-yard line, Sturm found junior Tajon Vassar on a screen pass on the right side and Vassar used his speed to evade the defense and score for the Falcons to regain the lead.
-After a Bentley penalty put the Hounds at the falcons 34-yard line Turner found Easton on the right side with a nice pass over the top which was secured at the eight, and Easton made a quick move to beat multiple Falcons defenders to even the score after junior Patrick May's (Boylston, Mass. / Tahanto Regional) PAT was converted.
-Immediately after giving up the lead, junior Nathaniel Larkins broke multiple tackles in the middle of the field and rushed up the left side of the field for a 72-yard TD to give the Falcons back the lead.
-With the final minute in the third quarter winding down, and Assumption down by a touchdown, Turner couldn't handle a high snap and the fumble was recovered by senior defensive back, Aaron Racki, who scooped it up on the 20 and returned it for a touchdown to give Bentley a 13-point cushion.
-With 4:34 left in the game and Bentley eating the clock by keeping the ball on the ground Brazicki scored his second TD of the day finding a hole for a 14-yard score to make it 40-21 Falcons.
-Immediately on the kickoff Huff returned the kick all the way to the Falcons 22-yard line to set the Hounds up with a good look to score. Turner immediately found senior Kyle Sonnie (West Roxbury, Mass. / Catholic Memorial) with a high pass in the endzone to make the score 40-28 in Favor of the Falcons.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
-Assumption had 320 yards of total offense, 231 from passing and 89 from rushing. Turner was 17-31 with 3 TD passes and 1 interception. Running back, Khaleed Exum-Strong (Norwichtown, Conn. / Norwich Free Academy / Trinity Pawling) had 16 rushing attempts for 67 yards. Easton had seven catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns. Beck had four catches for 60 yards and Sonnie had two catches for 31 yards with a TD.
-Bentley had 508 total yards of offense, with an almost even balance of pass and rush yards. Gaining 267 through the air and 241 on the ground. Sturm was 13-24 throwing for 3 touchdowns and one interception. Larkins had 21 rushing attempts for 117 yards and one touchdowns, while Brazicki had 13 attempts for 78 yards and one touchdown rushing while he also had one catch for 69 yards and another touchdown.
-Defensively for the Hounds, junior Brandon Santell (Lawrence, Mass. / Lawrence) had nine tackles, his classmate Edward Allen (Upper Marlboro, Md. / Riverdale Baptist) had eight, and senior Daniel Malm (Worcester, Mass. / St. Peter Marian) had seven. Huff had an interception which he returned for a touchdown.
UP NEXT
-The Greyhounds are back home next Saturday, September 18th, to host Pace at 1pm.
STAY CONNECTED
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