SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Sophomore running back Bryant Fitzgerald found the end zone with 2:46 left in the game to give the American International College football team a 38-34 Northeast-10 victory over Merrimack College Saturday afternoon on Senior Day at Ronald J. Abdow Field.

Both teams now sport an overall record of 5-4 for the season, and are now both 4-3 in the Northeast-10. This marked the sixth consecutive win for the Yellow Jackets over the Warriors.

The two teams traded scored the entire game, with the exception of a scoreless third quarter.

AIC took a 30-28 2:46 into the fourth quarter when redshirt freshman quarterback Kevin Arduino (Cornwall, N.Y.) found senior tight end Trevor Perryman (Centereach, N.Y) for a 10-yard touchdown and a successful two-point conversion.

Merrimack answered just over two minutes later after the two teams exchanged turnovers when senior quarterback James Suozzo (Everett, Mass.) ran the ball in from five yards out. The two-point conversion failed, giving the Warriors a 34-38 lead.

Two possessions later Arduino engineered an eight-play, 58-yard scoring drive was capped off by Fitzgerald's one-yard score to give AIC the lead for good. Arduino then hit sophomore wide receiver Matt Brown (North Kingston, R.I.) on the two-point conversion attempt for the 38-34 final.

Merrimack got one last chance to take the win, but the Warriors' ensuing drive came to an abrupt end when senior defensive back Max Brown (Paterson, N.J.) picked off Suozzo at the AIC 31 yard line with 2:03 to go. AIC then ran the ball four times to pick up a first down and secure the win.

Ardiono completed 19-of-31 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns and converted four-of-five two-point conversions, while Fitzgerald finished the game with 15 carries for 139 yards and two TDs. Perryman had eight receptions for 74 yards and two scores, while sophomore wide receiver Cal Brownridge (Newark, N.J.) caught four passes for 60 yards and one score.

Suozzo completes 15-of-31 passes for 136 yards and two TDs and carried the ball 20 times for 139 yards and an additional score. He was also picked off four times in the game. Junior running back Jimon Hill (North Cicago, Ill.) had 15 carries for 143 yards and two scores, while junior wide receiver Isaiah Voegeli (Hyannis, Mass.) had six catches for 74 yards and two scores.

Brown finished the contest with a game-high 11 tackles with one forced fumble and one interception for AIC, while junior defensive back Markell Rice (New Rochelle, N.Y.) had 10 tackles and forced a fumble. Senior defensive back Wausa Onigbanjo (Paterson, N.J.) had four tackles and two interceptions.

Senior linebacker Ryan McCarthy (Newton, Mass.) led Merrimack with nine tackles in the game, senior defensive lineman Nick DesJardins (Somerville, Mass.) registered eight tackles and had one fumble recovery.

The Yellow Jackets will close out the 2011 season with a Northeast-10 contest at Pace University November 12. Kickoff is set for noon in Pleasantville, N.Y.