WALTHAM, Mass. – The helm of the Bentley football team has changed since last year, but expectations have not. First-year head coach CJ Scarpa '17 leads the Falcons into the 2025 season one year after Bentley posted an 8-2 record.

Scarpa, a former Bentley quarterback, was the Falcons' offensive coordinator in each of the previous two seasons. Click HERE to learn more about Coach Scarpa.

As Scarpa steps into an elevated role, the Northeast 10's reigning MVP aims to take his game to new heights. Rashon Bradford, now a graduate student, led the NE10 in major receiving categories last year. He had 18 more receptions than the next leading conference receiver (74), and his 1,007 receiving yards were 125 yards ahead of the rest of the field. What's more, Bradford's 13 touchdown receptions led the NE10 by two.

Bradford and fellow classmate Pat Damon both earned Don Hansen All-American honors last year. Damon, a tight end and team captain from Hanover, Mass., ranked seventh in the conference for receptions (38) and tied for fifth for touchdown receptions (6). He totaled 441 receiving yards through 10 games. 

Senior offensive lineman Joe LoChiatto joined Bradford and Damon on the All-NE10 First Team in 2024. Follow offensive lineman Mike Boutross, a senior captain, was an All-NE10 selection last year.

Bentley returns another All-NE10 Second Team selection in senior captain Henry Schouten. The linebacker ranked third in the conference last year with 94 tackles. Christian Zamor, a sophomore defensive back from Everett, Mass., made the NE10 All-Rookie Team in 2024.

Offensively, the Falcons return many of the pieces that led to an explosive offense last year. In addition to Bradford and Damon, graduate wide receiver Isaiah Decias brings a lot of speed to take help take pressure of Bradford. Decias totaled 309 receiving yards last year, averaging just over 14 yards per reception.

Bentley is also excited to bring graduate tight end Nayvon Reid back into the mix after he missed last season with an injury.

Although the Falcons have many key returners on offense, Scarpa is positioning the offense to be more methodical than last year. The Falcons capitalized on a slew of big passing plays last fall, but that was due in large part to the many third-and-long situations. One measurement of success for the 2025 team will be an increase in third-and-short opportunities.

Defensively, graduate defensive lineman from Dorchester, Mass., - and captain - Isaiah Gomes will play a key role with Schouten and Zamor. Junior Quincy Pickett returns to the defensive line after playing in nine games as a sophomore. Graduate defensive back and captain Mike DiPlacido returns to the secondary for Bentley. He has played in all 10 games in each of the past two seasons. Last year, DiPlacido had a career-high 55 tackles, one forced fumble, and a blocked kick.

The quarterback position remains a fierce competition heading into week one. Sophomore Luke Warnock, senior Billy Osborn, and junior Isaiah Osgood are battling it out to take the season's opening snap.

The 2025 campaign starts at home Saturday, Sept. 6, for a 12 p.m. kickoff against West Chester. That afternoon, Bentley will celebrate the program's historic 30-game winning streak by welcoming back alumni from the 1993, 1994, and 1995 Falcon teams. Both the 1993 and 1994 Bentley teams went 10-0, and the 1995 team started 9-0.

That 30-game win streak is the longest by any New England college football team during the 20^th century.

As for the 21^st century- specifically the 2025 season, Bentley travels to Rhode Island to take on NCAA D-I program Bryant (Sept. 13).

The Falcons open conference action at home against Franklin Pierce during Falcon Weekend (Sept. 20). Click HERE for the complete schedule.