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South Easton, Mass. – The Bentley University and the Merrimack College football programs are both ranked in the first installment of the NCAA Division II super regional one rankings. The rankings were released by the NCAA Division II Football Committee. The Falcons are ranked sixth in the poll, while the Warriors are tenth.

Bloomsburg University, member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, is ranked number one in the Super Regional One with a 6-0 record.

Last week these two teams met up in Waltham, Mass. for a conference match up with Merrimack coming up on the winning end of a 14-12 grinder. The Warriors jumped out to a 14-0 halftime lead behind scores from quarterback James Suozzo (Everett, Mass.), who scored on a five-yard run, and a Chris Laham (Westwood, Mass.) 34-yard touchdown reception. Suozzo finished the game 11-of-24 passing with 117 yards and one touchdown.

Bentley began chipping away from the Merrimack lead in the second half as senior place kicker Tyler McNamara (Medway, Mass.) connected on four field goals to cut the lead to 14-12. In addition, McNamara set a new Bentley single game record and tied the Northeast-10 record for field goals in a game. In the process he also broke the Northeast-10 career mark for points by a kicker. He now has 199, surpassing the previous mark of 192 set by Tim Wagner of C.W. Post from 2000-2002. McNamara has converted 11-of-14 field goals this year.

Despite the second half comeback by Bentley, the Merrimack defense was able to hold on to the lead and eventual victory. Running back Anthony Smalls (Dorchester, Mass.) recorded 115 yards on the ground for the Warriors, while Bentley’s receiver Kelley Rowe (Toledo, Ohio) caught a game-high nine receptions from 149 yards.

This coming week both teams will be involved in games that could impact the top of the Northeast-10 standings. Bentley (5-1, 3-1 NE-10) hosts Southern Connecticut under the lights on Friday, Oct. 9. The Owls are riding the momentum of a four game winning streak after last week’s win over New Haven that placed them in first place in the NE-10 at 4-0. On Saturday, Merrimack (4-1, 3-0 NE-10) will travel to Worcester, Mass. and face Assumption College for a 1 p.m. contest. The Greyhounds are currently 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the Northeast-10.

With 16 member institutions the Northeast-10 shares the distinction of being the largest Division II conference in the country along with the PSAC and WVIAC. Its 23 championship sports provide athletic opportunities for over 5,500 student-athletes, the largest such program of any Division II conference.

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NCAA Division II Super Regional One

1. Bloomsburg
2. Charleston
3. Edinboro
4. Slippery Rock
5. East Stroudsburg
6. Bentley
7. California
8. West Liberty
9. Shaw
10. Merrimack