MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Bentley football team will play for the Northeast 10 title at home next week. The Falcons earned a huge road win at Saint Anselm, 28-14, Saturday afternoon, setting up the title game against Assumption, Nov. 8, in Waltham.  

Bentley (5-3, 5-1 NE10) scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to stun Saint Anselm (5-4, 4-3 NE10). It was the Falcons' special teams and defense that completely shifted momentum out of the Hawks' favor.

The teams entered the fourth quarter in a 7-7 tie. Both sides reached the end zone in the first quarter, but neither side added to the scoreboard for the following two quarters. Saint Anselm broke the scoring drought with a rushing touchdown four minutes into the fourth quarter. The go-ahead score was set up by an interception deep in Bentley territory.

Bentley's ensuing possession went three-and-out, as the Saint Anselm home crowd grew more and more energized. However, Bentley punter Matt Richardson cast some doubt for the hosts when he booted a 56-yard punt that was downed at the Hawks' two-yard line.

Saint Hanselm's first play from there was a handoff. Christian Zamor punched the ball loose, and Damian Anderson picked up the ball and the six-yard line and scored the game-tying touchdown (14-14).

Saint Anselm did little to respond. Bentley's defense limited the Hawks to only three offensive plays, and the Falcons took over possession on their own 45-yard line. On 2nd-and-14, Joshua Compoh took a handoff 16 yards for a crucial first down. Two plays later, Luke Warnock hit Isaiah Decias for a 35-yard touchdown pass, giving Bentley a 21-14 lead with just over six minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Saint Anselm's next possession was going nowhere – in fact, it was going backwards. The Hawks lined up to punt from their own five-yard line. However, a roughing-the-kicker penalty against Bentley gave the Saint Anselm drive new life.

On the ensuing first-down play, Jake Fredericks brought down the Hawks' quarterback for a loss of five yards. The next two plays resulted in only six positive yards. On fourth-and-nine, linebacker Henry Schouten came up his first interception of the season. The turnover put Bentley on the Hawks' 10-yard line. Compoh needed just two carries to get into the end zone, putting the game out of reach, 28-14, with two minutes left.

Decias had a career-high 157 receiving yards on seven catches in the win. In addition to his clutch fourth-quarter touchdown, Decias had a 58-yard touchdown reception from Warnock in the first quarter.

Warnock threw for 242 yards while completing 18 of 35 pass attempts.

Schouten led all players in tackles with 14, including 1.5 sacks.