Box Score

Pleasantville, N.Y. - The American International College football team dropped a 20-9 decision at Pace University Saturday afternoon in a Northeast-10 contest. The Setters improved to 1-8 overall and 1-6 in the NE-10 with their first victory of the season, while the Yellow Jackets fell to 5-4 overall and 3-4 in conference play.

Senior safety Greg Brain (Westtown, N.Y.) opened the scoring in the game when he picked off senior quarterback Shane #Murphy# (Bogota, N.J.) and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown with seven minutes to go in the first quarter. The Setters were back in the end zone on their next offensive possession as junior running back Jason Washington (Bronx, N.Y.) crossed the goal line on a two-yard run on the first play of the second quarter. The PAT was blocked by junior defensive lineman #Lee-Austin Johnson# (Framingham, Mass.), making it a 13-0 lead for Pace.

The Yellow Jackets appeared to be marching for a score of their own when a drive stalled at the Pace nine-yard line. AIC settled for a 26-yard field goal from senior kicker #Dan Bassani# (Naples, Fla.) with 3:12 left in the third quarter. The Yellow Jackets pulled to within one score when senior defensive back #Allen Bush# (Newark, N.J.) blocked a punt, recovered the loose ball and ran it back 14 yards for a touchdown. The PAT failed, cutting Pace's lead to 13-9 1:16 into the fourth quarter.

The two teams then traded possessions until the Setters put the game out of reach with a 12-play, 57-yard drive that was capped by a 13-yard scoring run for Washington. The PAT was good, giving Pace a 20-19 lead with just 1:03 left I the contest.

Murphy completed 17-of-36 passes for 137 yards and was intercepted twice in the game. He now ranks 10th on the career passing list with 2,601 career passing yards, surpassing Ken Eldridge (2,517 yards, 1964-66) on the career list. He needs just 43 yards to pass Terry Walles (1983-85) total of 2,643 passing yards to move into eighth.

Senior wide receiver #Kertis Hussey# (Paterson, N.J.) caught seven passes for 69 yards, both game-highs. He now ranks second on the career receptions list with 155, surpassing Dan Grant's 154 career receptions from 1996-99.

Washington finished the game with 23 carries for 110 yards and two touchdowns. Redshirt freshman quarterback Joe Romanick (Slidell, La.) was 19-of-30 for 160 yards, while junior wide receiver Eric Ortega (Staten Island, N.Y.) caught six balls for 51 yards.

Senior linebacker Michael LaMonica (Beachwood, N.J.) and junior linebacker Jonfrey Sanchez (Bogota, N.J.) recorded 10 tackles each to lead Pace's defense, which held the Yellow Jackets to a season-low 176 yards of total offense in the game. Graduate linebacker Andrew Lipski (Miller Place, N.Y.) added nine tackles and two tackles for. loss.

Junior linebacker #George Hudson# (Philadelphia, Pa.) and sophomore defensive back #Max Brown# (Paterson, N.J.) had 10 tackles each to lead AIC, which held the Setters to just 228 yards of total offense. Senior defensive lineman #Jashawn Williams# (Roosevelt, N.Y.) had six tackles (four solo) and 3.5 sacks in the game. He entered the game tied for seventh in Division II with 1.00 sacks per game.

The Yellow Jackets will close out the 2009 campaign when they host Assumption November 7 at 1 p.m. at Ronald J. Abdow Field.