We will get our first look at determining the league champ this weekend. Friday night at Bentley is the game of the weekend and a win will help both teams as we head into October.

Week 5 Capsules

AIC (3-1, 2-0 NE-10) at Bentley (3-1, 2-0 NE-10)

When: September 30th, 7:00 PM

All-Time Series: Series tied at 8-8-0

My thoughts: The first of many match-ups in the coming weeks that will help to determine the league title.

AIC has been the cardiac kids in all three of their wins. They have had a knack for digging a hole and being able to dig out of it just in the nick of time. Freshman quarterback Kevin Arduino has been solid in the first four weeks and will need to continue his stellar play against the Bentley defense. The Yellow Jacket defense will also need to find a way to slow down the Bentley offense. If they are able to force five interceptions like last year, it will be a good day for AIC.

Bentley has been as good as advertised to open the season and now will get their first real test in the league. Bryant Johnson has been pretty good this year, capped off with player of the week honors in the league last weekend. He has been able to distribute the ball to all of his playmakers and will need to continue to play mistake free against a very good AIC defense. The Bentley defense will also need to find a way to contain Arduino and not let him run free. If Johnson is able to play mistake free and the defense contains the AIC defense, Bentley will be in a good position at the end of the game.

This game is going to be closer than most people expect. Both teams are good on both sides of the ball and boast two of the top defenses in the league. I expect the game to come down to the final minutes and Bentley will find a way to win the game late.

Prediction: Bentley 24 AIC 23

Southern Connecticut (3-1, 2-0 NE-10) at Assumption (1-3, 0-2 NE-10)

When: October 1st, 1:00 PM

All-Time Series: Southern Connecticut leads the series, 9-0-0

My thoughts: Can the homecoming crowd spur on an upset in Worcester?

Southern Connecticut has scored a lot of points the past two weeks. They have a lot of weapons on the offensive side of the ball and it all starts with quarterback Kevin Lynch. He has many options to either hand the ball off to Rashaad Slowley or throw the ball down field to his receiving duo of Willie Epps and Andre Privott. That is too much firepower for most of the defenses in the league to handle.

Assumption played very well on the defensive side of the ball against New Haven. The defense stuffed the run and held the explosive Charger offense to just 21 points. The Greyhounds will need to do the same thing this weekend as they face another big challenge. The big question will be who suits up on offense. Assumption has been hit hard by the injury bug especially at the quarterback position. They are converting as many former high school quarterbacks on the roster to be prepared, just in case. We will see what Coach Bailey has up his sleeve this weekend.

Southern Connecticut is the bigger and more physical team. If they are able to establish their dominance in the trenches, it might be a long afternoon for Assumption.

Prediction: Southern Connecticut 35 Assumption 10

Merrimack (2-1, 1-0 NE-10) at St. Anselm (0-3, 0-2 NE-10)

When: October 1st, 1:00 PM

All-Time Series: Merrimack leads the series, 6-4-0

My thoughts: The new turf at St. Anselm has seen a lot of points scored in the first two games of the season and the forecast is calling for more this weekend.

Merrimack has been in three lopsided games this year and two of them saw them emerge on the positive side. The Warriors can score points at will. James Suozzo has plenty of playmakers at his disposal and will need to take advantage of all of them this weekend. The Merrimack defense will also need to find a way to slow down the St. Anselm offense especially in the secondary. If they are able to pressure the quarterback, the Warriors will have a very good afternoon on Saturday.

St. Anselm struggled in the rain last Friday night at Bentley. They were not able to generate much offense and struggled to slow down the Falcon offensive attack. The Hawks will need to find a way to handle of the weapons that Merrimack puts on the field on the offensive side. If they are able to force Suozzo into mistakes, they need to take advantage of them when given the chance. St. Anselm will need to play a mistake free game if they are going to be able to pull off the upset.

The scoreboard operator will earn his pay this weekend as both teams will put up some points. But Merrimack will put up more and walk away with the victory.

Prediction: Merrimack 49 St. Anselm 30

Stonehill (1-3, 0-2 NE-10) at New Haven (3-1, 1-0 NE-10)

When: October 1st, 1:00 PM

All-Time Series: New Haven leads the series, 2-0-0

My thoughts: These two teams are headed in opposite directions right now.

Stonehill nearly pulled out a victory last weekend against AIC but yielded 10 points in the final minutes. The Skyhawks have had a very tough schedule to open the league portion of their schedule with games against Bentley, AIC and now at New Haven. Coach Talley will need to find a way to rally his troops and get them to find a way to stop the bigger and fast New Haven squad. They will need to establish their running game to keep the Charger offense off of the field. The defense will need to limit the big play and get off the field by coming up big on third down.

New Haven won their first league game on the road last weekend and this might be a trap game if they are looking ahead to the Southern Connecticut game next weekend. But Coach Rossomando will keep his team focused on this game and making sure that his team takes care of business on Saturday. The Chargers will need to control the clock on offense and find the holes in the Stonehill defense. New Haven will also need to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.

New Haven learned their lesson last year not to overlook an opponent at anytime of the season. They will control the game and then move on to the next game on their schedule.

Prediction: New Haven 35 Stonehill 13