SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Sophomore running back Terrell Williams (Hempstead, N.Y.) and redshirt freshman quarterback Kevin Arduino (Cornwall, N.Y.) combined for 236 yards and four touchdowns on the ground as the American International College football team defeated Saint Anselm College 35-21 in a Northeast-10 contest Saturday afternoon at Ronald J. Abdow Field.

The Yellow Jackets, who had a season-high 512 yards of total offense, improved to 4-2 overall and 3-1 in the Northeast-10 with the victory. The Hawks fell to 0-5 for the season and 0-4 in conference play.

Williams carried the ball 22 times for 144 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and pulled in four receptions for an additional 50 yards. Arduino ran 18 times for 92 yards and two TDs while going 17-of-29 for 230 yards and another score.

It was Saint Anselm that got on the board first after winning the coin toss and going 58 yards on just four plays from scrimmage in the opening 1:07 of the contest. Sophomore running back Keith Charles (Laurel, Md.) capped the drive with a 19-yard scoring run.

AIC answered with a scoring drive of its own on the ensuing possession that Williams capped off with a 24-yard scoring run 3:03 into the game. The Yellow Jackets then took their first lead of the game on their next possession when Arduino ran in from eight yards out to finish a 16-play, 87-yard scoring drive that gave AIC a 14-7 lead with 1:56 left in the first quarter,

The Hawks drew even on their first possession of the second frame when junior quarterback Mike Pierce (Andover, Mass.) ran it in from three yards out to close off a 14-play, 75-yard drive 5:14 into the period. AIC regained the lead for good two and a half minutes later when Williams scored on a one-yard run following a 39-yard scramble by Arduino, giving the Yellow Jackets a 21-14 lead midway through the frame.

Later in the second, redshirt freshman defensive back Carron McCluney (Hillside, N.J.) intercepted Pierce at the Saint Anselm 38 that led to a 41-yard touchdown pass from Arduino to senior tight end Trevor Perryman (Centereach, N.Y.) two plays later to give the Yellow Jackets a 28-14 lead at halftime.

The Hawks pulled back within one score after Pierce led Saint Anselm on an 89-yard scoring drive the ended with a four-yard scoring pass to Charles with 2:06 left in the third quarter.

Any hopes of a Hawks' comeback were put to rest when Arduino pushed across a one-yard score with 6:34 remaining in the game to give AIC a 35-21 lead.

Pierce was 27-of-41 for 295 yards and one passing touchdown and ran seven times for 31 yards and a score. Charles had 20 carries for 96 yards and caught three passes for 29 more while scoring two TDs. Sophomore wide receiver Eric Feehan (Bedford, N.H.) was the leading receiver on the day, catching nine passes for 114 yards. Senior wide receiver Marc Wilson (Farmington, Conn.) also had nine catches for 66 yards.

Sophomore linebacker Jaquawne Simpkins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) recorded nine tackles for the Yellow Jackets, while McCluney and junior defensive back Markell Rice (New Rochelle, N.Y.) each had eight tackles. Junior linebacker Darius Evans (Linden, N.J.) finished the day with seven tackles.

Junior linebacker Brendan Timmons (Franklin, Mass.) had a game-high 12 tackles with one sack to lead Saint Anselm's defense, while senior linebacker Shane O'Donnell (Dracut, Mass.) had nine tackles with two tackles for loss and one sack.

AIC will next travel to 21st-ranked University of New Haven October 15 for a 1 p.m. Northeast-10 contest.