MANCHESTER, N.H. – After playing its first five games within the Granite State, the Saint Anselm College football team hits the road to take on Bentley, an NCAA Division II postseason team from a season ago, at high noon in Waltham, Mass. 

SAINT ANSELM COLLEGE HAWKS (4-1, 2-1 NE10)
Roster | Schedule & Results | 2022 Statistics | News | Game Notes

BENTLEY UNIVERSITY FALCONS (3-2, 1-1 NE10)
Roster | Schedule & Results | 2022 Statistics | News | Game Notes

Despite the team's first loss of the season last time out, Saint Anselm still holds several high statistical rankings when compared to other NCAA Division II programs in the country. The Hawks have gained 16 turnovers on defense, ranking second nationally, and the team still allows just 10.4 points per game to its opponents, fourth in NCAA Division II.

The Hawks will contend with an efficient Bentley offense that generates 17.1 passing yards per completion despite completing no more than 14 passes in a single game this season. The Falcons also rely on the top rushing game in the Northeast-10, churning out rely on a strong run game that has logged over 170 ground yards in three of this season's five games.

Saturday's game will also be a battle of the conference's best third down conversion percentage (41.0% - Bentley) against the league's finest third down conversion defensive percentage (21.0% - Saint Anselm).

NOTABLES

• START ME UP: Saint Anselm carries a 4-1 record into play on Saturday against Bentley, its finest record to begin the season since the 2014 campaign. Beginning the year with four consecutive wins, the Hawks had won six of their last seven games dating back to last season and entered last Saturday's game against New Haven as one of just 25 programs in NCAA Division II without a defeat.
• HOME IS WHERE IT HAPPENS: The Hawks have won nine of their last 11 games played at Grappone Stadium. The two defeats have come against nationally-ranked opponents - the first loss was to No. 24 Bentley on Oct. 2, 2021 where Hawks rallied from a 27-0 deficit but could not complete the comeback, falling 34-21. Last Saturday, the Hawks posted a narrow 21-10 defeat to No. 24 New Haven.
• LAST TIME OUT: New Haven committed four turnovers in the game (two lost fumbles, two interceptions) but held on for the victory over previously undefeated Saint Anselm, thanks to 320-plus yards of offense (207 yards rushing). Senior Taylor Pawelkoski (Bradenton, Fla.) posted 10 tackles for the Hawks, reaching double-digits for the second game in 2022 while chipping in with six solo takedowns. Graduate student Mac Barry (Malvern, Pa.) had a career-high seven tackles while senior Ryan Raybuck (Flower Mound, Texas) and senior Liam Flynn (Hanover, Mass.) each recorded interceptions for Saint Anselm. Junior Drew Willoughby (Austin, Texas) generated 127 aerial yards for the Hawks, completing 18 passes. Senior Anthony Brown (Belton, Texas) was the top receiver in terms of receptions (four) and receiving yards (70) while classmate Bobby Long (Bridgewater, Mass.) hauled in three catches for 39 yards. Senior Vincent Wagner (Staten Island, N.Y.) had 15 rushes for 57 yards for Saint Anselm.
• WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?: Anthony Brown has caught a pass in each of his 25 career games at Saint Anselm, the fourth-longest streak in Hawks history. Justin Bernard '15, the all-time NCAA Division II leader for career passes caught (386), had a program-record streak of 41 games with at least one reception from Sept. 9, 2010 through Nov. 15, 2014. Brown has hauled in 16 career touchdowns, needing two on Sunday to pass Marc Wilson '12 for third place on the all-time list.
• "PASSING" IT UP: Drew Willoughby has played in just 14 career games, but has completed 381 passes to rank seventh all-time in team history in that metric. He ranks sixth all-time with 4,130 career passing yards and 36 career touchdowns.
• P-A-TRICK: Sophomore Patrick Carroll (Stafford, Va.) was named the Northeast-10 Conference Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday, Sept. 26. Against Southern Conn. St. in week four, Carroll was responsible for seven points as he converted both of his field goal tries and his lone extra point attempt. Carroll opened the scoring with a 41-yard field goal in the first quarter and later added a 22 yarder in the fourth quarter to tie the contest at 14. He later punched home an extra point following what proved to be the game-winning touchdown in the final minute of regulation. Last time out against No. 24 New Haven, Carroll tallied a 22-yard field goal. He now has five field goals in his last three games, the first to log three-straight games with a field goal since Daniel Parisi '19 accomplished the feat during the 2018 season. When compared to the rest of the kickers in the NE10, Carroll ranks fourth in total points (30) and is tied for the second-most extra points made (15). Three of his five field goals have been at least 40 yards as he is the second Saint Anselm kicker to have three or more field goals of over 40 yards (Michael Garcarz '05, Daniel Parisi '19) in a career.

For a more detailed game preview, check out the GAME NOTES for Saturday's game.