Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The American International College football team held Stonehill to just 173 yards of total offense as it won its school record 12th consecutive game, 24-10. The Yellow Jackets improved to 6-0 on the season and 4-0 in the Northeast-10, while the Skyhawks dropped to 1-5 overall and 0-4 in conference play with their fifth straight loss. Sophomore quarterback #Rob Parent# (West Warwick, R.I.) completed 17-of-25 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns for AIC.

The Yellow Jackets also tied the school record for consecutive home victories with its 13th straight win at John Homer Miller Field, a streak that began with a 51-28 win over Saint Anselm November 5, 2005. AIC also won 13 consecutive home games spanning the 1999-2002 seasons. The Yellow Jackets 6-0 start to the season ties the 1980 team for the second-most wins to open a season in program history. AIC won a school-record eight straight games to open the 1975 campaign.

Senior wide receiver #Travis Poole# (Brooklyn, N.Y.) had five catches for 70 yards and scored two touchdowns and freshman running back #Mike Mayo# (Roosevelt, N.Y.) carried the ball 22 times for 131 yards and one score.

Stonehill senior quarterback Cruz Parsons (Signal Hill, Calif.) was 17-of-35 passing for 216 yards and one touchdown and senior wide receiver Chris Palmer (Santa Barbara, Calif.) caught six passes for 76 yards and one TD. Sophomore running back Eddie Vachon (Newton, Mass.) carried the ball 11 times for 34 yards.

The Yellow Jackets took the lead for good with 6:56 remaining in the first quarter when Parent found Poole on a 12-yard scoring play and the PAT gave AIC a 7-0 lead. The Skyhawks retuned the ensuing kickoff 65 yards to the Yellow Jackets' 35-yard line and had first and goal from the AIC two-yard line, but the Yellow Jackets made them settle for a 21-yard field goal from junior placekicker Brenda Gorey (West Islip, N.Y.) to make it a 7-3 contest.

AIC led 10-3 at the half after senior placekicker #Marek Przyblyek# (Olsztyn, Poland) booted a 42-yard field goal and Mayo opened the second half scoring with a one-yard touchdown run midway though the third quarter. Poole later found the endzone on a 14-yard scoring reception five minutes into the fourth quarter, giving AIC a commanding 24-3 lead.

Stonehill capped the scoring after taking advantage of a Mayo fumble at the AIC 15-yard line with 4:15 left in the game. Parsons tossed a nine-yard scoring pass to Palmer on fourth and four and Gorey converted the PAT for the 24-10 final.

The Skyhawks then attempted and on-side and recovered the ball at their own 49-yard line and, thanks in part to three Yellow Jacket penalties, drove down to the AIC five-yard line. Parsons was sacked by junior defensive lineman #Jashawn Williams# (Roosevelt, N.Y.) on first and goal, which resulted in a fumble that was recovered by junior defensive lineman #Terrence Mercer# (Bridgeport, Conn.) with just five seconds remaining on the clock.

AIC's defense put in another stellar effort as it held Stonehill to just 173 yards of total offense and sacked Parsons 10 times in the game for a total loss of 86 yards. Senior defensive lineman #Jean Simeon# (Atlantic City, N.J.) recorded a team-best 13 tackles, seven solo, with game-highs of six tackles for loss and three and a half sacks. Junior linebacker #Rich Reichert# (Kings Park, N.Y.) registered 11 tackles with one sack and sophomore linebacker #George Hudson# (Philadelphia, Pa.) had nine tackles and two tackles for loss. Mercer had seven tackles, two tackles for loss, one and a half sacks and one fumble recovery.

Senior linebacker Greg Sanzari (Centerport, N.Y.) had a game-high 15 tackles for the Skyhawks and led the team with two tackles for loss. Senior defensive back Jon Kilborn (Dartmouth, Mass.) wrapped up 12 tackles and had one forced fumble.

The Yellow Jackets were ranked fifth in the NCAA's first regional ranking of the season and is receiving votes in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) coaches' poll. AIC received 23 points, placing it four positions and 32 points behind No. 25 Newberry (S.C.).

The Yellow Jackets return to action October 18 when they host Pace at 1 p.m. in a Northeast-10 contest.