Game Preview - Bentley

The Golden Rams open the 2016 season with their first ever trip to Waltham, MA to take on the Bentley Falcons. Kickoff at Bentley University Football Stadium is set for Saturday at noon.

Series History:
This will be the first time these two teams meet on the football field.

Scouting the Opponent:

Bentley's high water mark in football came in the early 2000's when they twice qualified for the playoffs. In 2003, when only four teams from each region qualified for the postseason, the Falcons finished the regular season 10-0, but lost in the first round to eventual national champion Grand Valley St. The following year, the playoffs expanded to six teams from each region and Bentley finished the regular season 8-1 to garner the third seed in the Northeast Region. They again fell at home in the first round, this time to Edinboro. Besides winning the Northeast-10 Conference title outright in 2003 and 2004, they shared the title in both 2009 and 2010.

Head coach Bill Kavanaugh is a Bentley alumnus and enters his third season as head coach of the Falcons with the team finishing 5-6 in each of his first two years. Last season they lost at Mercyhurst 35-20 one week prior to the Golden Rams falling to the Lakers.

The Falcons' signal caller last year was Matt Montalto (114 of 207 for 1,161 yards, 6 TD's, 8 int's). He started the first nine games of the season before suffering a season ending injury at Assumption. This year, Montalto is listed as a running back as he had 263 yards and two touchdowns on 89 carries last season. So CJ Scarpa (60 of 98 for 584 yards, 4 TD's, 1 int in nine games in 2015) looks to be next in line. However, another possibility is Mack Lowrie who redshirted at Boston College in 2013, and started the first six games of the 2014 season for Rhode Island before an injury essentially ended his season. Now at Bentley, the 6'4" Lowrie was an all-state quarterback in high school where he threw for 5,000 yards and 75 TD's to go along with 1,600 yards rushing in his career. Keep a keen eye for Montalto who is 5'9" and Scarpa who is 5'8".

Last year's top receiver returns in Chris Calvanese (40 catches, 547 yards, 4 TD's). Drew Mahoney (17 catches, 160 yards, 1 TD) was named to the Northeast-10 All-Rookie team after last year. Bentley returns their top three ground gainers - Martin Bannerman Jr. (162 carries, 721 yards, 5 TD's), George Craan (127 carries, 372 yards, 2 TD's), and Montalto. On the offensive line, left tackle Eric Beckwith is a two-time second team All-Northeast-10 honoree.

Punter Tyler Ford (43.0 yard avg, 4 touchbacks, 24 inside 20) was the only Bentley player to be named first team Northeast-10. Defensive back Sam McDonald (13 returns, 7.6 avg) handled the punt return duties last year. The Falcons will be introducing a new kicker and Mahoney will likely be the primary kick returner this season.

Linebacker Bryan Hardy (92 tackles, 7.5 TFL) was Bentley's top tackler last season and was named second team All-Northeast-10. He's helped in the middle by Brandon Brown (42 tackles, 2 forced fumbles). McDonald (42 tackles, 5 int's) was also a second team All-Northeast-10 honoree as a defensive back and is accompanied by Junior Chery (37 tackles, 2 int's, 5 pass breakups). Bentley graduated the entire three-man defensive line.

Analysis:

Bentley does a good job controlling the ball. The Falcons had a +9 turnover margin last season and were 12th in the nation in time of possession with 33:16. West Chester's experienced offensive line would seem to have a heavy advantage over a young Bentley defensive front, so it may be a matter of merely limiting mistakes.

Golden Ram head coach Bill Zwaan is 7-2 against the Northeast-10, with both losses coming on the road - a 35-32 overtime loss at New Haven in 2011 and a 24-20 loss at C.W Post in the 2005 playoffs...The last time West Chester faced a Northeast-10 team was a 35-30 victory at New Haven in 2014...Zwaan is 20-10 in the first meeting against an opponent...Bentley was picked to finish 6th in the NE10...Massey Ratings and Atomic Football are both predicting a 7-point West Chester win.

Game Coverage:

Live Stats   Audio   Video  

West Chester Athletic Site - Depth Chart - 9/3 at Bentley

PSAC Site - Football Notes: Week 1

Northeast-10 Site - Assumption Tabbed as Preseason Favorite in NE-10 Football Coaches’ Poll

Bentley Athletic Site - Bentley Launches 2016 Season Saturday at Home against West Chester

KYW Newsradio - WCU Heads North For Saturday Season Opener Vs. Bentley

Boston Globe - New England college football preview

Daily Local News - Zwaan has high hopes for West Chester University this fall

D2football - NE10 Columnist - 2016 NE-10 Season Week 1 in the NE-10

D2football - PSAC Columnist - Previewing Week 1 in the PSAC