WALTHAM, Mass. – An unlikely rushing touchdown, a big special teams play, and a resilient defense led the Bentley football team to a 34-24 victory under the Bentley lights Friday night.

Neither team's offense gained too much traction in the first quarter. Mason Campbell knocked down a couple of field goals, one from 45 yards and the other from 24 yards, to give Bentley a 6-0 edge. However, the Owls reached the end zone late in the first quarter to take a 7-6 lead into the second quarter.

And that's when the fireworks started.

Graduate student quarterback Brett Pullman completed all five of his pass attempts during the ensuing drive, and a 15-yard carry by Alex Berrouet brought Bentley down to the Owl's three-yard line. Bentley defensive lineman Zachary Goodwin entered the backfield for the Falcons, and the 300-pound graduate student took the handoff and rumbled into the end zone for Bentley's first touchdown of the game. It was Goodwin's first-career touchdown.

The Falcons scored again only a few second later.

Day Garcia forced a fumble on the very next kickoff, and David Brown Jr. was there to scoop up the loose ball and take it to the house, giving Bentley a 20-7 lead.   

The Owls reached the end zone with three minutes left in the third quarter, but Bentley was quick to answer right back. Pullman found Jonathan Oriakhi for a big 31-yard completion down the middle of the field, down to the Owls' 28-yard line. Three plays later, Pullman found Rashon Bradford streaking down the sideline, and Bradford made an incredible one-handed catch in the end zone.

Bentley took a 27-14 lead into halftime.

The only points of the third quarter were from a Southern Connecticut field goal. The Owls cut Bentley's lead to one possession, 27-24, with a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
Although it did bend, the Bentley defense did not break. The Falcons forced Southern Connecticut to punt with just under eight minutes left in regulation. From there, Bentley methodically ran down the clock while gaining crucial first downs.

One of those first downs was a 16-yard carry by Vinnie Holmes. Later in the drive, Holmes caught a 17-yard pass for another first down. The Falcons eventually reached the Owls' one-yard line, and Pullman dove over a pile of linemen for the touchdown that sealed the 34-24 victory.

Overall, Pullman completed 19 of 35 pass attempts for 214 yards. Holmes ran for 79 yards on 16 carries, and Berrouet finished with 56 rushing yards on nine carries. Bradford led all players in receiving with seven catches for 7 yards.

Defensively, Henry Schouten had a game-high 16 tackles. He also forced and recovered a fumble in the first quarter.

Prior to kickoff, Bentley celebrated legendary coach Peter Yetten by formally naming the football field in his honor.

Bentley next hosts New Haven Saturday, Sept. 28, during Falcon Weekend. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.