Jaylen Carr – Editor-in-Chief
Despite linebacker Hasan Dominick Jr., a graduate student, recording the 222nd tackle of his Owl career, the Owls failed to score for three quarters, losing their fourth game to Bentley University, 13-6.
“I would contribute my game to always trying to play on the field,” Dominick said. “I was just trying to make a play for my offense.”
Dominick would have his career-best 17 tackles while forcing a fumble and having an interception earlier in the first half. Despite the wet conditions, the defense held Bentley’s offense to only one touchdown.
“Hasan has been dominant all year,” Defensive Coordinator Rob Eggerling said. “He is so coachable and plays with so much passion— it is great to have him back.”
Dominick leads by example and is the defense vocal leader, Eggerling said. Of his 17 tackles, 10 were solo tackles that led the team. Dominick said he tried to ensure the offense had a good field position.
“We played a good team today on both sides of the ball,” Eggerling said. “We created some turnovers.”
Eggerling said both teams did not expect the weather to be good enough for a football game, but it was great.
“I thought we played extremely hard and competed for the whole game,” Eggerling said. “Obviously, we didn’t make the plays to get ourselves in scoring range.”
Dating back to the Sept. 16 matchup against the University of New Haven, where the Owls lost 34-7, the team had not scored for seven straight quarters.
The offense versus Bentley was stagnant, as quarterback Keith Ridley, a graduate student, threw for 135 yards for one touchdown and two interceptions. The Owls got production out of their three-headed monster at running back — junior E’lijah Gray, freshman Kieran Falzon and junior Shawn Martin.
“We just have to continue to keep pushing,” Gray said. “We can march down the field like we are one of the best teams in the NE10s, but we just have to finish.”
Gray said the offense has to capitalize on the defense-making plays. The Owls’ wide receivers were quiet throughout the game, as they had 11 receptions as a team.
“The defense did their thing,” Gray said. “All we have to do is to keep finishing and do our job.”
Gray led the team in rushing with 63 yards on 16 attempts. The Owls’ offense failed to get in the red zone consistently.
Eggerling said, “It was four tough games that we have opened up with four good teams. We have to keep working and learning from the games.”
At the half, the Owls did not score, while Bentley scored an early first-quarter touchdown and two long field goals to lead 13-0.
Eggerling said the message at the half was to score to cut it to a one-possession game and try to take the lead.
“It was a hard-fought loss,” Dominick said. “We are onto the next week.”
Gray said the season is not over despite the loss, and he still says the team can get some Ws in the win column.
With almost half the schedule complete, the Owls will host Saint Anselm College, an NE10 rival, on Sept. 30.
