Recap written by Director of Athletic Communications Luke Tracy 

WALTHAM, MASS. (10/28/2023) – In a game decided by a safety, the Franklin Pierce University football team came up short in a 12-10 loss to Northeast-10 conference opponent Bentley University on Saturday.

Score: Franklin Pierce 10, Bentley 12
Records: Franklin Pierce (3-5, 2-3, NE-10); Bentley (5-3,4-1, NE-10)
Location: Waltham, Mass. (Bentley University)
Date: Saturday, October 28, 2023

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After a scoreless first quarter, the Ravens were first to get on the board at the end of the second from the left foot of kicker Nolan Startzell (Scituate, Mass.) who hit a 29-yard field goal to close out the first half.
• Following halftime, Bentley tied it up after a 39-yard field goal from kicker Mason Campbell.
• Later in the third quarter, the Ravens marched down the field going 75 yards in four plays which was capped off with a 2-yard run from FPU offensive lineman Zach Najem (Paterson, N.J.) who caught a fumbled handoff and ran the ball in for the first touchdown of the game. With the field goal, the Ravens went up 10-3.
• With four minutes on the game clock, Bentley scored a game tying 17 yard passing touchdown to Mark Waid.
• On the kickoff following the tying touchdown, the Ravens bobbled and then later fumbled the ball on the reception ending in a safety. The two points gave the Falcons the 12-10 lead. Getting the ball back, Bentley was able to kill the final 3 minutes of the game to secure the victory.

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS:

• The Ravens and Falcons were nearly identical in total offensive output but the teams differed greatly in how they moved the ball down the field:
  • FPU total offense: 251; BU total offense: 277
  • FPU net yards passing: 211; BU net yards passing: 112
  • FPU net yards rushing: 40; BU net yards rushing: 165
  • FPU total offensive plays: 44; BU total offensive plays 78
  • FPU Interceptions thrown: 2; BU interceptions thrown: 0
• Franklin Pierce's Adrian Parker (Manchester, Conn.) generated some serious yardage for the Ravens after he went 15-22 and threw for 211 yards with 2 interceptions.
• Bentley running back Mark Waid led the way for the Falcons after going 13-29 for 112 yards. 

NEXT FOR THE RAVENS: The Ravens continue will be back on the road Saturday to face off against Saint Anselm at 12:00 PM.