Bentley closed its season at 5-4 overall, the 20th time in 23 varsity seasons that the Falcons have finished on the positive side of .500. In addition, the Falcons, who were awarded a conference win earlier in the week as a result of the cancelled game with Pace last month, gained a share of first-place in the Northeast-10 standings.
Highlights for the Falcons included senior placekicker Paul Branco (Brockton/Brockton HS) tying the Bentley varsity record for longest field goal (45 yards) on the final play of the first half, senior QB Bryant Johnson (Hopedale/Milford HS) eclipsing both 2000 passing yards for the season and 5000 for his career while breaking the school record for completion percentage in a season (.659), and junior Bobby Tarr (Byfield/Bishop Fenwick HS) posting the highest rushing total by a Bentley running back in three years, finishing with 149 yards on 23 carries.
After Johnson and Moscato teamed up to give Bentley the lead with 3:57 left in the third, Bentley’s defense came up big. They forced a three-and-out on the ensuing possession and came up with three fourth-quarter takeaways. Senior linebacker Matt Shea (Walpole/Xaverian Brothers HS) recovered a fumble forced by junior defensive end Matt Welch (Woburn/Woburn HS), junior Don Hopkins (Waltham/Waltham HS) registered his sixth interception of the season after a deflection by sophomore defensive tackle R.J. Barden (Quincy/North Quincy HS) and sophomore corner Steve Stewart (Wilmington/Wilmington HS) had a pick on the game’s final play.
Stonehill claimed the early lead when freshman Michael Kielbasa (Ludlow) making a 21-yard field goal four minutes into the game. Bentley quickly answered, moving 64 yards in seven plays before freshman Lorenzo Warren (Boston/Catholic Memorial HS) took it in from the one.
The Skyhawks (5-5, 3-5 NE-10) regained the advantage early in the second on a two-yard run by sophomore Jermetrius Troy (Mattapan). Again, the Falcons responded on their next possession with Johnson scoring the go-ahead TD on a one-yard keeper.
Bentley’s final possession of the first half began on its own 28 with 24 seconds left. Three Johnson completions, including a 27-yarder to senior Wade Critides (Wayland/Wayland HS), quickly moved the ball to the Stonehill 28, and Branco easily made the 45-yarder to send his team into the half up seven, 17-10. Branco, a Northeastern transfer, finished his only season in a Falcon uniform a perfect 33-of-33 on extra points and with a team-best 54 points.
Stonehill received the ball to open the second half and drove 59 yards in 13 plays for the tying score. Senior Eddie Vachon (Newton), who eclipsed 3,000 rushing yards for his career after gaining 111 yards in 22 carries, completed the drive with a one-yard TD run for his 14th score of the season.
A fumble recovery by junior Steve Hopkins (Waltham/Waltham HS) midway through the third quarter gave Bentley the ball on the Skyhawk 43. Eight plays later, Johnson found Moscato in the back of the end zone for the go-ahead score.
It remained a one-possession game until Branco was successful on a 29-yard field goal with 49 seconds left.
Johnson finished 21 of 32 for 243 yards, with 18 of those completions going to his three senior wide-outs. Kyle Tuthill (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas HS) claimed eight balls for 88 yards, John Malone (Walpole/Walpole HS) had five (including the 100th of his career) for 75, and Critides finished with five for 65.
Bentley accumulated 426 yards total offense and 23 first downs while controlling the ball for nearly 34 minutes, including more than nine minutes in the final quarter. Stonehill was also able to move the ball (343 yards), but the four turnovers proved costly.
Bentley senior linebacker Greg O’Brien (Canton/Xaverian Bros. HS) finished with a game-high 11 tackles, including 1.5 for losses. Shea followed with eight stops, and each of the Hopkins brothers made seven.
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