Record Setting Saturday For Ursinus QB Sal Bello

By Matt Leon

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It was a big win for the Division III Ursinus Bears on Saturday as they beat visiting McDaniel College up in Collegeville, 33-17.

The victory improved the Bears to 2-2 on the season (1-2 in the Centennial Conference) and it also featured a breakout performance by Ursinus junior quarterback Sal Bello.

Making just his third start of the season and his college career, Bello, an Archbishop Carroll High School product, carved up the Green Terror defense for a school record 465 yards passing. He also added four touchdown passes to the cause.

"Throughout the course of the week, we definitely game planned for the pass," Bello tells KYW Newsradio. "We felt like there were areas that we could succeed in the passing game. As the game went on though, we definitely saw some sections of the field that we hadn't been targeting. The middle of the field we hadn't really game planned for, but we made some adjustments and it worked out for us."

Listen to the entire interview with Ursinus quarterback Sal Bello

What makes Bello's performance even more impressive is that he compiled his 465 passing yards on just 22 completions. So he averaged 21.1 yards per connection and his four touchdowns went for 78, 66, 47 and 28 yards.

"It's definitely a cool experience watching guys running down the field, I have to be honest with you," Bello says. "It's always a good feeling when you see somebody break away for a touchdown."

Bello started this season as the back-up, but took over under center in the midst of the Bears' season opening, five-overtime win over Millersville and has been triggering the offense ever since. He talks about getting better as the season goes on.

"I think (Head) Coach (Pete) Gallagher has definitely done a tremendous job of preparing me," Bello says. "I don't think I would have any success without his help. Every single day in the film room with him, going over coverages, going over different route concepts, I think that's really been the biggest factor is just the extra film study that I've had with him."

Bello and the Bears return to action on Saturday afternoon when they visit Moravian.

You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.