Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The American International College football team dropped a 17-9 decision to Southern Connecticut State University Saturday afternoon in front of a crowd of 2,756 at John Homer Miller Field. All of the scoring took place in the first half.

The Owls evened their record at 2-2 for the season and improved to 2-0 in the Northeast-10, while the Yellow Jackets fell to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play. This marked the second straight win for SCSU at AIC.

Both defenses put in outstanding performances as neither offense was very effective, with the Yellow Jackets compiling just 211 yards of total offense to the Owls 205.

AIC got on the board first with a safety 1:31 into the game. The Yellow Jackets forced Southern Connecticut into a three-and-out on the first series of the game and the snap went over the head of sophomore kicker Christopher Hazelton (Bristol, Conn.), the ball then went out the back of the end zone for the safety, giving AIC a 2-0 lead.

The same happened in the Owls favor two possessions later as a snap went over the head of senior kicker #Dan Bassani# (Naples, Fla.), but the ball was downed on the AIC three-yard line. Senior quarterback Chris Roberts (New Britain, Conn.) called his own number on the third play of the drive and punched it in for the score.

Bassani wasn't able to get his next punt off after AIC was forced into a three-and-out on its next possession as redshirt freshman Jack Cooper (Kensington, Conn.) broke through the line and took down Bassani in the backfield. Roberts then hit sophomore wide receiver Andre Privott (Middletown, Conn.) with a 41-yard touchdown pass on the only play of the drive, giving the Owls a 14-2 lead 1:40 into the second quarter.

Junior quarterback #Rob Parent# (West Warwick, R.I.) connected with junior wide receiver #Davon LeGrier# (Paterson, N.J.) on a seven-yard to cap a 10-play, 71-yard drive with 4:38 left in the first half and Hazelton capped the scoring with a 20-yard field goal with 1:04 left in the half.

Neither team managed to get things going in the second half. AIC had first and 10 from the SCSU 12-yard line, but had to settle for a field goal attempt that sailed wide. The Owls offense stalled at the Yellow Jackets' 29 on the ensuing possession. AIC's last chance on offense ended when Parent was picked off by senior linebacker Jerome Pinckney (Ellenwood, Ga.) at his own 41-yard line with 1:31 left in the game.

Pinckney finished the game with 10 tackles and senior linebacker Michael Campbell (Newignton, Conn.) had a game-high 11 tackles and forced one fumble. Senior linebacker #Rich Reichert# (Nesconset,N.Y.) led the Yellow Jackets with 10 tackles and senior defensive lineman #Nathaniel Thompson# (Elizabeth, N.J.) had eight tackles, including three for loss.

AIC will look to bounce back Friday night when it travels to Bentley for a 7 p.m. Northeast-10 contest.