BENTLEY RALLIES IN FINAL QUARTER TO KNOCK OFF PACE 24-20

WALTHAM, MA- Bentley University scored a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns as the Falcons, who were down most of the game, rallied to defeat the Pace University Setters 24-20 in Northeast-10 Conference football action this afternoon. The Setters drop to 4-5 overall and 3-4 in the NE-10, while the Falcons improve to 5-5 and 4-3 in conference play.

The Setters took an early lead as they would take advantage of a Bentley first quarter turnover. Falcons' punt returner Brett Schuering would fumble the punt from Ali Moutada (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) and the Setters would recover the ball at the Bentley 19-yard-line. Nathaniel Ford (Queens, NY/Jamaica) (Queen, NY/Jamaica) would give Pace the lead with an 8-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead. Bentley would slice into the Pace lead as Tyler McNamara would connect on a 30-yard field goal early in the second quarter. Mourtada would extend the Setter lead to 10 as he would hit a 31-yard and later a 29-yard field goal for a 13-3 Pace lead late in the second quarter.

Bentley would rally towards the end of the first half as their offense would face a fourth and goal from their own 30-yard-line with under a minute left in the half. Falcons' quarterback John White would launch a pass towards the end zone that would be tipped up and fall into the hands of Wade Critides for an improbable touchdown and trail the Setters 13-10 at the break.

Ford, on his way to a big day on the ground with over 100 first half yards, pushed the Setter lead back to 10 points as he would score from one yard out late in the third quarter, giving Pace a 20-10 lead heading into the final quarter of play.

The Bentley defense would limit the Setters to 25 yards of offense in the final quarter, while the Falcons offense would rally. White would toss his second touchdown pass of the day as his 18-yard pass to Kyle Tuthill capped a 10-play, 67-yard drive, cutting the Pace lead to 20-17 with 14:45 left in the game. The Setter offense would go three plays and punt back to the Falcons. Bentley would again drive down the field, using a nine-play, 73-yard drive, this time capped off by a one-yard touchdown run by Matt Welch to give the Falcons their first lead of the day at 24-20. The teams would trade punts the rest of the way as Bentley escaped with the four-point victory over the Setters.

For Pace, Ford had a career day, rushing for 163 yards on the ground on 26 carries and two TDs. Ray Gregg (Stony Point, NY/North Rockland) (Stony Point, NY/North Rockland), returning from an injury, tossed for 179 yards in the air on 17-for-35 passing. Andre Kulak (Wolcott, CT/Wolcott) finished with five receptions for 65 on the day.

On defense, the Setters were led by Lee Robinson (New Milford, CT/New Milford) (New Milford, CT/New Milford) and Dan Robinson (Aberdeen, NJ/Matawan Regional) (Aberdeen, NJ/Matawan Regional) who each totaled eight tackles on the afternoon. Michael LaMonica (Beachwood, NJ/Toms River South) (Beachwood, NJ/Toms River South) chipped in seven tackles, while Brian Schuster (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) totaled six and also had an interception.

The Setters return to action next Saturday, November 8 when Pace hosts Saint Anselm College on Homecoming and Senior Day at Pace Field on Pace's Pleasantville campus for a 12:00 pm kickoff.